--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were several men who had blazed the…" description: "\"There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work would have had even more opposition than it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg" --- # There were several men who had blazed the trail for… ![“There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work would have had even more opposition than it did.” quote by Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg) > “There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work would have had even more opposition than it did.” [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She acknowledges early philosophers who opened discussions on emotions, noting that without them her work would face even greater resistance. **In simple terms:** Early thinkers paved the way for emotional philosophy, reducing opposition. Key Takeaway Recognize and build on prior work. Themes philosophy emotions intellectual history Mood reflective respectful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - public debates - teaching philosophy Key Concepts ethical theory affect theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor predecessors while advancing your own ideas? - What resistance have you faced despite prior groundwork? 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But they don’t know what it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/people-talk-about-losing-control-of-themselves-all-the-time-whether-2/) [Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/) > [I am of the philosophy that if you work really hard and focus on things, you will get there in some form or fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mangano/i-am-of-the-philosophy-that-if-you-work-really-hard-and-focus-on/) [Joy Mangano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mangano/) > [I have come finally to a simple philosophy of work. I enjoy what I do and do the best I can. That is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-schell/i-have-come-finally-to-a-simple-philosophy-of-work-i-enjoy-what-i-do/) [Maria Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-schell/) > [“A philosophy of work is essential if we would be whole men, holy men, healthy men, joyous men. A certain amount of goods is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/a-philosophy-of-work-is-essential-if-we-would-be-whole-men-holy-men/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [My philosophy is, if you work as hard as you can, you give yourself as many opportunities as you can to be successful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/my-philosophy-is-if-you-work-as-hard-as-you-can-you-give-yourself-as/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [Philosophy's work is finding the shortest path between two points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/philosophy-s-work-is-finding-the-shortest-path-between-two-points/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I gotta think that one that becomes a philosophy of work, which is "no excuses."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/i-gotta-think-that-one-that-becomes-a-philosophy-of-work-which-is-no/) [Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/) > [One connection I see between the work I did on philosophy and my work on technology is that both communities tend to mystify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/one-connection-i-see-between-the-work-i-did-on-philosophy-and-my-work/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) ## More by Martha Nussbaum > [I worked among many famous philosophers, and I tried to observe how they treated students. I knew which ones I wanted to be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-worked-among-many-famous-philosophers-and-i-tried-to-observe-how/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [All of us, whether we are ignorant of philosophy or professors of philosophy, find it easier to follow dogma than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/all-of-us-whether-we-are-ignorant-of-philosophy-or-professors-of/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I think Americans did learn that you just are not going to be able to live well if you subordinate people on the grounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-think-americans-did-learn-that-you-just-are-not-going-to-be-able-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I wish a person with a record of competence such as Nitish Kumar would get a chance to lead India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-wish-a-person-with-a-record-of-competence-such-as-nitish-kumar/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I wouldn't express anything without being very thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-wouldn-t-express-anything-without-being-very-thoughtful/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [When I was four I joined a group of girls who were talking about their party dresses. I thought they were imagining, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/when-i-was-four-i-joined-a-group-of-girls-who-were-talking-about/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Emotions aren't just mindless urges; they contain thoughts about matters of importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/emotions-aren-t-just-mindless-urges-they-contain-thoughts-about/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [If you've been betrayed by a spouse or a partner, it's much easier to focus on causing that person pain than it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/if-you-ve-been-betrayed-by-a-spouse-or-a-partner-it-s-much-easier-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly-true-of-americans-don-t-like/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Fear and monarchy pair nicely. But democracy means you have to work with people you may not like but you must still believe are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/fear-and-monarchy-pair-nicely-but-democracy-means-you-have-to-work/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You have to connect your work to what people are doing. A good way is to construct a bridge between theory and practice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-have-to-connect-your-work-to-what-people-are-doing-a-good-way-is/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put themselves in the shoes of another person, who can't think what their policies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Every time I undress in the locker room of my gym, I see women bearing the scars of liposuction, tummy tucks, breast implants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/every-time-i-undress-in-the-locker-room-of-my-gym-i-see-women-bearing/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [The U.S. has always understood itself to be united around political principles and not around culture, whereas the nations of Europe have a much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/the-u-s-has-always-understood-itself-to-be-united-around-political/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Gandhi, when he was on the salt march, had everyone singing the song of Rabindranath Tagore, which goes, 'Walk alone, walk alone...' Now there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/gandhi-when-he-was-on-the-salt-march-had-everyone-singing-the-song-of/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) [Explore all 106 Martha Nussbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## More Emotions quotes > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mind has trouble processing all the emotions I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-has-trouble-processing-all-the-emotions-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“When love carries us away on its brittle wings, we are too intoxicated to comprehend its power. We just want to soar and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balroop-singh/when-love-carries-us-away-on-its-brittle-wings-we-are-too-intoxicated/) [Balroop Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balroop-singh/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) [Whitney Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-daugherty/) > [Love is an ocean of emotions entirely sorrounded by expensee..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-an-ocean-of-emotions-entirely-sorrounded-by-expensee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) [Browse all 4,415 Emotions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work would have had even more opposition than it did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Nussbaum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-the-trail-for-talking-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Emotions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-the-trail-for-talking-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/martha-nussbaum-4759_emotions_there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-th_223037.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work…” — Martha Nussbaum", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martha Nussbaum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There were several men who had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-the-trail-for-talking-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-the-trail-for-talking-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```