--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think most decent people would be…" description: "\"“I think most decent people would be horrified at what happens today, even in our enlightened country. There are still mean, self-righteous Pharisees, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/joseph-f-girzone-35809_decent-people_i-think-most-decent-people-would-be-horr_2068296.jpg" --- # I think most decent people would be horrified at what… ![“I think most decent people would be horrified at what happens today, even in our enlightened country. There are still mean, self-righteous Pharisees, who have a sick need to punish others whose troubled lives they can never begin to understand, much less feel compassion for.” quote by Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/joseph-f-girzone-35809_decent-people_i-think-most-decent-people-would-be-horr_2068296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/joseph-f-girzone-35809_decent-people_i-think-most-decent-people-would-be-horr_2068296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/joseph-f-girzone-35809_decent-people_i-think-most-decent-people-would-be-horr_2068296.jpg) > ““I think most decent people would be horrified at what happens today, even in our enlightened country. There are still mean, self-righteous Pharisees, who have a sick need to punish others whose troubled lives they can never begin to understand, much less feel compassion for.”” [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the cruelty of judgmental people who punish others without understanding their suffering. **In simple terms:** Judgment without empathy harms. Key Takeaway Practice compassion over condemnation. Themes judgment empathy social criticism Mood critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace conflicts - political discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts moral psychology social dynamics compassion Questions to Reflect On - Why do we judge others harshly? - What steps can foster empathy? A Different Perspective Compassion may be difficult when personal biases run deep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pharisees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharisees/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) ## Related quotes > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Many people are horrified at the idea of birth control. . . . It is simply the keynote of a new moral program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/many-people-are-horrified-at-the-idea-of-birth-control-it-is-simply/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [Strange how blind people are! They are horrified by the torture chambers of the Middle Ages, but their arsenals fill them with pride!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertha-von-suttner/strange-how-blind-people-are-they-are-horrified-by-the-torture/) [Bertha von Suttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertha-von-suttner/) > [Self-righteousness is unavoidable. You can either be a self-righteous Pharisee where you think you are better than everyone else or you can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/self-righteousness-is-unavoidable-you-can-either-be-a-self-righteous/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“Jesus expressed intense anger toward those who where immoral, such as the self-righteous Pharisees, but he never suggested that they were demonized. Toward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-expressed-intense-anger-toward-those-who-where-immoral-such-as/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Joseph is the wearisomest and self-righteous Pharisee who ever ransacked the Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/joseph-is-the-wearisomest-and-self-righteous-pharisee-who-ever/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the class from whom it never turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-its-severity-and-its/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The Talmud derives its authority from the position held by the ancient (Pharisee) academies. The teachers of those academies, both of Babylonia and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-finkelstein/the-talmud-derives-its-authority-from-the-position-held-by-the/) [Louis Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-finkelstein/) > [The Bible in itself is not the Word of God. The Word of God is a person. Neither does the Bible have life, power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-brinsmead/the-bible-in-itself-is-not-the-word-of-god-the-word-of-god-is-a/) Robert D. Brinsmead > [“To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/to-those-who-rejected-him-righteousness-would-one-day-appear-as-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [The pharisees minded what God spoke, but not what He intended. They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/the-pharisees-minded-what-god-spoke-but-not-what-he-intended-they/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-starr-miller/according-to-miller-pharisee-judaism-is-not-a-religion-at-all-but-a/) Edith Starr Miller > [A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-pharisee-is-someone-who-is-virtuous-out-of-obedience-to-the-great/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“He speaks to the poor, the powerless, and he mocks the rich and powerful. He isn't the Messiah the Pharisees are looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-landsem/he-speaks-to-the-poor-the-powerless-and-he-mocks-the-rich-and/) Stephanie Landsem ## More by Joseph F. Girzone > [“I learned that I was never alone, that there was Someone always very close by and, indeed, within me, giving me strength in times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-learned-that-i-was-never-alone-that-there-was-someone-always-very/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“Carlo had learned much from his pilgrimage-retreat, and the most important of his insights was the realization that it is essential to make Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/carlo-had-learned-much-from-his-pilgrimage-retreat-and-the-most/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“If you want to have peace of soul, learn to forgive. Jesus' secret was His ability to see into people's hearts. Seeing their anguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/if-you-want-to-have-peace-of-soul-learn-to-forgive-jesus-secret-was/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“I have finally come to realize why Jesus has such a passionate love, yes, a passionate love for the poor and the outcasts. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-have-finally-come-to-realize-why-jesus-has-such-a-passionate-love/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“For the first time he began to understand why Jesus had such compassion for the poor. Jesus could identify with them because they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/for-the-first-time-he-began-to-understand-why-jesus-had-such/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“You probably know more about life, real life, than most people. You never really know what life is all about until you have suffered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/you-probably-know-more-about-life-real-life-than-most-people-you/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“I'll tell you, I now know why Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. It was because he had such a deep and beautiful feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-ll-tell-you-i-now-know-why-jesus-called-himself-the-good-shepherd/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“I think I know now why Jesus had such a tender spot in his heart for the poor. It takes great faith and simplicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-think-i-know-now-why-jesus-had-such-a-tender-spot-in-his-heart-for/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“I am a priest, and while I listened to your homily this morning, I realized that I have not been the good shepherd I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-am-a-priest-and-while-i-listened-to-your-homily-this-morning-i/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“He was one of those souls destined by God to understand just how little and insignificant they are, even though divine love makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/he-was-one-of-those-souls-destined-by-god-to-understand-just-how/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“The world needs to understand Jesus' teaching on forgiveness, and when it does, the world will find its way to peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/the-world-needs-to-understand-jesus-teaching-on-forgiveness-and-when/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [“Carlo felt sad losing the companionship of his new friends and thought about how fortunate Americans were to have immigrants in ever-increasing numbers blessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/carlo-felt-sad-losing-the-companionship-of-his-new-friends-and/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) [Explore all 13 Joseph F. Girzone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) ## More Decent people quotes > [I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to "saints". Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/you-may-of-course-ask-whether-we-really-need-to-refer-to-saints/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“This attack is the greatest tragedy in human history,” Avasarala said. “They want the belt to rise up so they can hide behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/this-attack-is-the-greatest-tragedy-in-human-history-avasarala-said/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I have a treasure trove of Baker memories, all of which reinforce my sense of Howard Baker as one of the most decent people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yarmuth/i-have-a-treasure-trove-of-baker-memories-all-of-which-reinforce-my/) [John Yarmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yarmuth/) > [Certain types of loudmouthism should be a capital offense among decent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/certain-types-of-loudmouthism-should-be-a-capital-offense-among/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ineos is a friendly organisation. Very few people leave. It's collegiate. There's not much politics, and we like decent people. We don't like arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/ineos-is-a-friendly-organisation-very-few-people-leave-it-s/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [Don't try to be fancy. Shoot for the center of mass. The world is full of decent people. Criminals we can do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/don-t-try-to-be-fancy-shoot-for-the-center-of-mass-the-world-is-full/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [“On the one hand we must never imagine that our own unaided efforts can be relied on to carry us even through the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/on-the-one-hand-we-must-never-imagine-that-our-own-unaided-efforts/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“They just don't know you,' Penelope said, patting her on the hand. 'And they don't know \*you\*, either,' Lady Danbury quite pointedly replied ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/they-just-don-t-know-you-penelope-said-patting-her-on-the-hand-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [ I explain how America hatred and Jew hatred are \[INDEMIC\] to Modern Liberalism and delve deeper into why it is the otherwise good and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sayet/i-explain-how-america-hatred-and-jew-hatred-are-indemic-to-modern/) [Evan Sayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sayet/) > [When someone puts you down and treats you badly, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Decent people will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/when-someone-puts-you-down-and-treats-you-badly-just-remember-that/) Unkown > [Most of my heroes are just decent people. Decency is rare and underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/most-of-my-heroes-are-just-decent-people-decency-is-rare-and/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“No respecter of evidence has ever found the least clue as to what life is all about, and what people should do with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/no-respecter-of-evidence-has-ever-found-the-least-clue-as-to-what/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) Browse all 156 Decent people quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think most decent people would be horrified at what happens today, even in our enlightened country. 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