--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Condemning others as bad or sinful is a…" description: "\"Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel righteous. Such a feeling is a powerful mood alteration and can become highly addictive.\" — John Br..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/john-bradshaw-2227_condemning_condemning-others-as-bad-or-sinful-is-a_2426905.jpg" --- # Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel… ![“Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel righteous. Such a feeling is a powerful mood alteration and can become highly addictive.” quote by John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/john-bradshaw-2227_condemning_condemning-others-as-bad-or-sinful-is-a_2426905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/john-bradshaw-2227_condemning_condemning-others-as-bad-or-sinful-is-a_2426905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/john-bradshaw-2227_condemning_condemning-others-as-bad-or-sinful-is-a_2426905.jpg) > “Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel righteous. Such a feeling is a powerful mood alteration and can become highly addictive.” [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging others harshly boosts self‑righteousness, creating a mood that can become habit‑forming. **In simple terms:** Condemning others fuels a self‑righteous high that can become addictive. Key Takeaway Beware of using judgment to boost ego. Themes self‑judgment ego addiction morality Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - online comment sections - personal relationships - group identity formation Key Concepts psychology defense mechanisms social comparison Questions to Reflect On - How does judging others affect your own self‑esteem? - Can you find healthier ways to feel confident? A Different Perspective Such judgments can damage relationships and obscure personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) ## Related quotes > [Churchgoers feel righteous, responsible, and obedient to God's will. They view anyone unlike themselves as devoid of values, and therefore unworthy of God's love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/churchgoers-feel-righteous-responsible-and-obedient-to-god-s-will/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I love being shown evidence of a rule-flouter, because it makes me feel ever so righteous and holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dent/i-love-being-shown-evidence-of-a-rule-flouter-because-it-makes-me/) [Grace Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dent/) > [“But the thing that makes me really messed up is the contradiction: when I'm not hating myself, I feel righteous and victmized. Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/but-the-thing-that-makes-me-really-messed-up-is-the-contradiction/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/self-discipline-will-never-make-us-feel-righteous-or-clean-accepting/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“To my way of thinking, the slavery issue is just an excuse to allow some people to do hateful things and feel righteous about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lowery-nixon/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-slavery-issue-is-just-an-excuse-to-allow/) [Joan Lowery Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lowery-nixon/) > [You can feel righteous fury in every frame of The Magdalene Sisters. The movie is both a masterpiece and a holy hell: Watching it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/you-can-feel-righteous-fury-in-every-frame-of-the-magdalene-sisters/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [“In fact, the most paradoxical aspect of neurotic shame is that it is the core motivator of the superachieved and the underachieved, the star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-fact-the-most-paradoxical-aspect-of-neurotic-shame-is-that-it-is/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [ ...The British press... \[claimed that Tony\] Blair was simply Bush's poodle - a favorite phrase, bewilderingly popular, although it made no sense - and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/the-british-press-claimed-that-tony-blair-was-simply-bush-s-poodle-a/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/a-most-insidious-form-of-fear-is-that-which-masquerades-as-common/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-could-not-forgive-her-but-he-could-not-be-unfeeling-though/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [ The media theme was, "June is when you win the presidency," because that's what they thought Hillary \[Clinton\] was doing. Hillary was running ads… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-theme-was-june-is-when-you-win-the-presidency-because-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It really is true the Lord's way is to love the sinner while condemning the sin. That is to say we continue to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-b-wickman/it-really-is-true-the-lord-s-way-is-to-love-the-sinner-while/) [Lance B. Wickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-b-wickman/) > [o the gay community I apologize if I did something, but all I said was I was against same-sex marriage. But I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/o-the-gay-community-i-apologize-if-i-did-something-but-all-i-said-was/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Conversations about piracy don't have to be condemning. They don't have to be preachy, self serving or reactionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/conversations-about-piracy-don-t-have-to-be-condemning-they-don-t/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [The White House begun airing their TV commercials to re-elect the president, and the John Kerry campaign is condemning his use of 9/11 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-begun-airing-their-tv-commercials-to-re-elect-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More by John Bradshaw > [Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/recovery-begins-with-embracing-our-pain-and-taking-the-risk-to-share/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Generally speaking, most of our vital, spontaneous, instinctual life gets shamed. Children are shamed for being too rambunctious, for wanting things and for laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/generally-speaking-most-of-our-vital-spontaneous-instinctual-life/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“A covert kind of sexual abuse occurs when Dad or Mom talk about sex in front of the children when the age level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-covert-kind-of-sexual-abuse-occurs-when-dad-or-mom-talk-about-sex/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Love-that which biologists, nervous about being misunderstood call "attachment"-fuels the bond between dog and master or mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/love-that-which-biologists-nervous-about-being-misunderstood-call/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“(b) Boundary Violation. This involves children witnessing parents in sexual behavior. They may walk in on it because parents don’t provide closed or locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/b-boundary-violation-this-involves-children-witnessing-parents-in/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“A toxically shamed person is divided within himself and must create a false-self cover-up to hide his sense of being flawed and defective. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-toxically-shamed-person-is-divided-within-himself-and-must-create-a/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [I define a 'good person' as somebody who is fully conscious of their own limitations. They know their strengths, but they also know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-define-a-good-person-as-somebody-who-is-fully-conscious-of-their/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“The ego defense of conversion transforms developmental needs into the need for something else. This could be food, money or excessive attention. In Max’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-ego-defense-of-conversion-transforms-developmental-needs-into-the/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“In fact, the most paradoxical aspect of neurotic shame is that it is the core motivator of the superachieved and the underachieved, the star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-fact-the-most-paradoxical-aspect-of-neurotic-shame-is-that-it-is/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“If our primary caregivers are shame-based, they will act shameless and pass their toxic shame onto us. There is no way to teach self-value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-our-primary-caregivers-are-shame-based-they-will-act-shameless-and/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/ego-is-to-the-true-self-what-a-flashlight-is-to-a-spotlight/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“If a cat falls out of a high-rise building or a tall tree, it has another trick available: forming a “parachute” by spreading all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-a-cat-falls-out-of-a-high-rise-building-or-a-tall-tree-it-has/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“In the past, when dogs’ functions were mostly rural, it was accepted that they were intrinsically messy and needed to be managed on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-the-past-when-dogs-functions-were-mostly-rural-it-was-accepted/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“IDENTIFICATION When victimization takes place the victim often identifies with the persecutor. By so doing the victim no longer feels the helplessness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/identification-when-victimization-takes-place-the-victim-often/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) [Explore all 178 John Bradshaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) ## More Condemning quotes > [The White House begun airing their TV commercials to re-elect the president, and the John Kerry campaign is condemning his use of 9/11 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-begun-airing-their-tv-commercials-to-re-elect-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Conversations about piracy don't have to be condemning. They don't have to be preachy, self serving or reactionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/conversations-about-piracy-don-t-have-to-be-condemning-they-don-t/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [o the gay community I apologize if I did something, but all I said was I was against same-sex marriage. But I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/o-the-gay-community-i-apologize-if-i-did-something-but-all-i-said-was/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [It really is true the Lord's way is to love the sinner while condemning the sin. That is to say we continue to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-b-wickman/it-really-is-true-the-lord-s-way-is-to-love-the-sinner-while/) [Lance B. Wickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-b-wickman/) > [ The media theme was, "June is when you win the presidency," because that's what they thought Hillary \[Clinton\] was doing. Hillary was running ads… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-theme-was-june-is-when-you-win-the-presidency-because-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-could-not-forgive-her-but-he-could-not-be-unfeeling-though/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/a-most-insidious-form-of-fear-is-that-which-masquerades-as-common/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [ ...The British press... \[claimed that Tony\] Blair was simply Bush's poodle - a favorite phrase, bewilderingly popular, although it made no sense - and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/the-british-press-claimed-that-tony-blair-was-simply-bush-s-poodle-a/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [Grief falls upon human beings as the rain, not selecting good or evil, visiting the innocent, condemning those who have done no wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/grief-falls-upon-human-beings-as-the-rain-not-selecting-good-or-evil/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [I'm not condemning the Catholic Church - it's too big, it's like condemning a nation and that would be prejudiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/i-m-not-condemning-the-catholic-church-it-s-too-big-it-s-like/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [Nature herself is a mass murderer, making casual, cruel experiments and condemning 10,000 to die so that one more fit will live and thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/nature-herself-is-a-mass-murderer-making-casual-cruel-experiments-and/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [The virtue of some people consists wholly in condemning the vices in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-virtue-of-some-people-consists-wholly-in-condemning-the-vices-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For God loves saving, not condemning, and therefore He is patient with bad people, in order to make good people out of bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-god-loves-saving-not-condemning-and-therefore-he-is-patient-with/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [While America may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/while-america-may-be-a-nation-divided-on-policies-we-are-a-country/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It would seem the people who want to preserve the Penans' way of life are condemning them to a life full of diseases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/it-would-seem-the-people-who-want-to-preserve-the-penans-way-of-life/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) Browse all 138 Condemning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel righteous. 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