--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an illusion of central position…" description: "\"There is an illusion of central position, justifying one's own purposes as right and everybody else¹s as wrong, and providing a proper degree of parano..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/henri-frederic-amiel-1276_approved_there-is-an-illusion-of-central-position_1862949.jpg" --- # There is an illusion of central position, justifying one's… ![“There is an illusion of central position, justifying one's own purposes as right and everybody else¹s as wrong, and providing a proper degree of paranoia. Righteous ends, thus approved, absolve of guilt the most violent means.” quote by Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/henri-frederic-amiel-1276_approved_there-is-an-illusion-of-central-position_1862949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/henri-frederic-amiel-1276_approved_there-is-an-illusion-of-central-position_1862949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/henri-frederic-amiel-1276_approved_there-is-an-illusion-of-central-position_1862949.jpg) > “There is an illusion of central position, justifying one's own purposes as right and everybody else¹s as wrong, and providing a proper degree of paranoia. Righteous ends, thus approved, absolve of guilt the most violent means.” [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It warns that believing one's own perspective is central can breed paranoia and justify violent actions for perceived righteous goals. **In simple terms:** Thinking you're always right can lead to paranoia and violent means. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions and seek humility. Themes bias paranoia ethics power violence Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political leadership - conflict resolution - personal decision‑making - activism Key Concepts moral relativism self‑justification political psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when your view is overly central? - What checks can prevent justified violence? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic factors that shape perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approved/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilt Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt-violent-2520253/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justifying/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Paranoia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paranoia/) [Paranoia Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paranoia-righteous-2520254/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Providing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providing/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [Righteous ends, thus approved, absolve of guilt the most violent means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/righteous-ends-thus-approved-absolve-of-guilt-the-most-violent-means/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [In justifying cruelty to animals we put ourselves also on the animal level. We choose the jungle and must abide by our choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/in-justifying-cruelty-to-animals-we-put-ourselves-also-on-the-animal/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“But don't they say that all is fair in love and war? I heard that somewhere." "'They?' Who are 'they?'" "I don't know. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/but-don-t-they-say-that-all-is-fair-in-love-and-war-i-heard-that/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“You use words written by men to justify your actions? TO question whether or not you are damned? We damn ourselves. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-heller/you-use-words-written-by-men-to-justify-your-actions-to-question/) [A.C. Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-heller/) > [People who don't believe in God may have their own way of justifying some bad act they have committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/people-who-don-t-believe-in-god-may-have-their-own-way-of-justifying/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“The truth no matter how hard it is to bear, must be accepted and confronted head on because it is real. Businesses and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/the-truth-no-matter-how-hard-it-is-to-bear-must-be-accepted-and/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Two people pass each other. As one looks upon the other's skin color, the other is looking back at their appearance. Both justifying, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/two-people-pass-each-other-as-one-looks-upon-the-other-s-skin-color/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“We are to give up all our sins, big or small, for the Father’s reward of eternal life. We are to forget self-justifying stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-gay/we-are-to-give-up-all-our-sins-big-or-small-for-the-father-s-reward/) [Robert C. Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-gay/) > [“The kind of pain that you can't share with people is worse than one that is apparent. Worst of all is the kind you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravinder-singh/the-kind-of-pain-that-you-can-t-share-with-people-is-worse-than-one/) [Ravinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravinder-singh/) > [Too often we think we can act without explaining and take decisions without justifying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/too-often-we-think-we-can-act-without-explaining-and-take-decisions/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [“Their goal is to deepen our comprehension of the discussions themselves instead of justifying particular views involved in current debates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-b-ferngren/their-goal-is-to-deepen-our-comprehension-of-the-discussions/) [Gary B. Ferngren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-b-ferngren/) > [Justifying faith is not a naked assent to the truths of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/justifying-faith-is-not-a-naked-assent-to-the-truths-of-the-gospel/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [It is not a matter of ends justifying means: but of the creation of new means and new ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/it-is-not-a-matter-of-ends-justifying-means-but-of-the-creation-of/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [Even alone we go on justifying ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-alone-we-go-on-justifying-ourselves/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Feelings are self-justifying, with a set of perceptions and "proofs" all their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/feelings-are-self-justifying-with-a-set-of-perceptions-and-proofs-all/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) ## More by Henri Frederic Amiel > [There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-only-one-way-of-not-hating-those-who-do-us-wrong-and-that-is/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Latent genius is but a presumption. Everything that can be, is bound to come into being, and what never comes into being is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/latent-genius-is-but-a-presumption-everything-that-can-be-is-bound-to/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Order is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/order-is-power/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Knowledge, love, power-there is the complete life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/knowledge-love-power-there-is-the-complete-life/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/life-is-short-and-we-have-never-too-much-time-for-gladdening-the/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Each bud flowers but once and each flower has but its minute of perfect beauty; so, in the garden of the soul each feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/each-bud-flowers-but-once-and-each-flower-has-but-its-minute-of/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/we-are-never-more-discontented-with-others-than-when-we-are/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Only evil grows of itself, while for goodness we want effort and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/only-evil-grows-of-itself-while-for-goodness-we-want-effort-and/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [A man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied; he must know how to disengage what is essential from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/a-man-must-be-able-to-cut-a-knot-for-everything-cannot-be-untied-he/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Our greatest illusion is to believe that we are what we think ourselves to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/our-greatest-illusion-is-to-believe-that-we-are-what-we-think/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Charm is the quality in others that makes us more satisfied with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/charm-is-the-quality-in-others-that-makes-us-more-satisfied-with/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [The philosopher aspires to explain away all mysteries, to dissolve them into light. Mystery on the other hand is demanded and pursued by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/the-philosopher-aspires-to-explain-away-all-mysteries-to-dissolve/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [The growth and development of the soul is more important than power and glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/the-growth-and-development-of-the-soul-is-more-important-than-power/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature... is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/he-who-asks-of-life-nothing-but-the-improvement-of-his-own-nature-is/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Christianity, if it is to triumph over pantheism, must absorb it. To our pusillanimous eyes Jesus would have borne the marks of a hateful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/christianity-if-it-is-to-triumph-over-pantheism-must-absorb-it-to-our/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) [Explore all 262 Henri Frederic Amiel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) ## More Approved quotes > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [When I came to explain to them the 'Nelson Touch', it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved - 'It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-came-to-explain-to-them-the-nelson-touch-it-was-like-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [As much as the next person, I want to be approved of, but I'm not greedy for that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/as-much-as-the-next-person-i-want-to-be-approved-of-but-i-m-not/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [In my schoolboy days I had no aversion to slavery. I was not aware there was anything wrong about it. No-one arraigned it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-my-schoolboy-days-i-had-no-aversion-to-slavery-i-was-not-aware/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When I first began examining the global-warming scare, I found nothing more puzzling than the way officially approved scientists kept on being shown to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/when-i-first-began-examining-the-global-warming-scare-i-found-nothing/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I should have known something was wrong with my first wife. When I brought her home to meet my parents, they approved of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-should-have-known-something-was-wrong-with-my-first-wife-when-i/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [That which concerns everyone must also be discussed and approved by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-verhofstadt/that-which-concerns-everyone-must-also-be-discussed-and-approved-by/) [Guy Verhofstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-verhofstadt/) > [ You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos\[i\]tion to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/you-have-not-been-mistaken-in-supposing-my-views-and-feeling-to-be-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think Martin Luther King would always keep track of collective insurgencies among poor and working people. He was concerned about the treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-martin-luther-king-would-always-keep-track-of-collective/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) [Browse all 251 Approved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is an illusion of central position, justifying one's own purposes as right and everybody else¹s as wrong, and providing a proper degree of paranoia. 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