Although Quote by Kathryn Schulz
“Parading our own brilliance and exulting in other people's errors is not very nice. For that matter, even wanting to parade our own brilliance and exult in other people's errors is not very nice, although it is certainly very human.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lonely City, by Olivia Laing, 2010
Celebrating our own intelligence while mocking others is unkind, though it reflects a common human tendency to feel superior.
In simple terms: Boasting and belittling others is unkind.
Key Takeaway
Practice humility and empathy.
Themes
humility
empathy
pride
human nature
social behavior
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- workplace meetings
- online debates
- family gatherings
- political discourse
Key Concepts
psychology
ego
social comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we feel the need to elevate ourselves at others' expense?
- How can we shift to supportive praise?
A Different Perspective
Humor can mask underlying insecurity.
![“[The main road was] now teeming with people carrying torches, pitchforks, and rakes, and one very confused man who apparently had mistaken the mob for a parade and was marching around with a Swedish flag.” quote by Cuthbert Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3bb/cuthbert-soup-19444_angry_the-main-road-was-now-teeming-with-peopl_69333.jpg)
![“It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only [Star Wars] cast member skeptical of the willingness of people to come out to see us five actors drive by in antique cars in the Boston rain. Well, it was the first time I really understood the show's popularity.” quote by John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/098/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_it-was-when-boston-invited-us-to-do-a-pa_67396.jpg)
