Action Quote by Matthew Arnold
“What actions are the most excellent? Those, certainly, which most powerfully appeal to the great primary human affections: to those elementary feelings which subsist permanently in the race, and which are independent of time. These feelings are permanent and the same; that which interests them is permanent and the same also.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays in Criticism, 1865
The best actions are those that appeal to fundamental human emotions that are timeless and universal.
In simple terms: Great deeds tap timeless human feelings.
Key Takeaway
Act in ways that resonate with core human emotions.
Themes
ethics
human nature
timelessness
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- leadership
- artistic creation
- public speaking
- teaching
- counseling
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- What core emotions drive your decisions?
- How can you align actions with universal feelings?
A Different Perspective
Such actions may be limited by cultural differences in interpreting emotions.
![“I am in favor of [actions] that have authenticity, roots, originality, verve, balance, taste, communicativeness, challenge, relevance to their time-in short, things that make sense.” quote by Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c37/vaclav-havel-2013_action_i-am-in-favor-of-actions-that-have-authe_970257.jpg)
