Emotion Quote by Howard Jacobson
“When emotion rules, every fool thinks that he is holy.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Dream of the Blue Turtles, 1999
When emotions dominate, people mistake passion for moral superiority, leading to arrogance.
In simple terms: Emotion can make fools feel holy.
Key Takeaway
Question feelings before claiming moral high ground.
Themes
emotion
hubris
morality
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political debate
- religious discourse
- personal relationships
- leadership
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you let emotion cloud judgment?
- Can passion ever be moral?
A Different Perspective
Rational analysis can also guide decisions without dismissing emotion.
![“Satisfaction with results will be the [death] knell of progress. No man is good who thinks that he cannot be better. He has no holiness who thinks that he is holy enough.” quote by Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b72/charles-spurgeon-82_death_satisfaction-with-results-will-be-the-de_1394347.jpg)
![“She was a fool, and so am I, and so is anyone who thinks he sees what God is Doing, [writes Bokonon].” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7de/anonymous-1_bokonon_she-was-a-fool-and-so-am-i-and-so-is-any_918523.jpg)
![“Music [is] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To burn with all the emotions you didn't get to experience in the ordinary run of school, TV, and loading the dishwasher after dinner.” quote by Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44b/joe-hill-1162_dinner_music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grab_5424.jpg)