--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not astonishing that there are many…" description: "\"It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who have become human failures and worthless men. Rather, it is astonishing that, despite all thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/max-weber-8418_astonishing_it-is-not-astonishing-that-there-are-man_2978768.jpg" --- # It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who… ![“It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who have become human failures and worthless men. Rather, it is astonishing that, despite all this, this very stratum includes such a great number of valuable and quite genuine men, a fact that outsiders would not so easily guess.” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/max-weber-8418_astonishing_it-is-not-astonishing-that-there-are-man_2978768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/max-weber-8418_astonishing_it-is-not-astonishing-that-there-are-man_2978768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c2/max-weber-8418_astonishing_it-is-not-astonishing-that-there-are-man_2978768.jpg) > “It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who have become human failures and worthless men. Rather, it is astonishing that, despite all this, this very stratum includes such a great number of valuable and quite genuine men, a fact that outsiders would not so easily guess.” [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that even flawed groups can contain many virtuous individuals, surprising outsiders. **In simple terms:** Even bad groups can have good people. Key Takeaway Look beyond stereotypes. Themes morality group dynamics surprise Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace evaluation - community building - leadership assessment Key Concepts sociology ethical paradox Questions to Reflect On - What factors allow virtue to thrive in flawed groups? - How can we recognize hidden merit? A Different Perspective Assumes moral judgments are static. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsiders/) ## Related quotes > [“How do you look upon other men as astonishing organisms? Only by so regarding yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-broughton/how-do-you-look-upon-other-men-as-astonishing-organisms-only-by-so/) [James Broughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-broughton/) > [It had never occurred to us that the Kremlin's new anti-booze campaign would apply to journalists. Now, that's a human-rights violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-had-never-occurred-to-us-that-the-kremlin-s-new-anti-booze/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“No one ever said aloud any of the kinds of things he was so constantly thinking, because no one in the parish, not Alice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/no-one-ever-said-aloud-any-of-the-kinds-of-things-he-was-so/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy which we call mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/still-more-astonishing-is-that-world-of-rigorous-fantasy-which-we/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/all-that-we-don-t-know-is-astonishing-even-more-astonishing-is-what/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [It's Twitter's combination of simplicity and complexity that is astonishing in the same way that minimalist sculpture was inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/it-s-twitter-s-combination-of-simplicity-and-complexity-that-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The astonishing thing for me is that I had a career before politics and I never thought about my colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gyimah/the-astonishing-thing-for-me-is-that-i-had-a-career-before-politics/) [Sam Gyimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gyimah/) > [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [It was astonishing when at one point, I got the idea of how to make artifical clouds with a collaborator, we had pictures made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/it-was-astonishing-when-at-one-point-i-got-the-idea-of-how-to-make/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-astonishing-is-that-we-who-had-no-idea-how-anything-was-going/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, The Headmaster's Wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime Saigon in the story of Percival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-y-k-lee-2/a-first-novel-of-astonishing-force-craft-and-beauty-the-headmaster-s/) Janice Y. K. Lee > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It's astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way. That's why a reporter's job, as you know, is such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/it-s-astonishing-what-you-learn-and-feel-and-see-along-the-way-that-s/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) ## More by Max Weber > [“It is horrible to think that the world could one day be filled with nothing but those little cogs, little men clinging to little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/it-is-horrible-to-think-that-the-world-could-one-day-be-filled-with/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [A government is an institution that holds a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/a-government-is-an-institution-that-holds-a-monopoly-on-the/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [The fate of an epoch that has eaten of the tree of knowledge is that it must...recognize that general views of life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-fate-of-an-epoch-that-has-eaten-of-the-tree-of-knowledge-is-that/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [The nation is burdened with the heavy curse on those who come afterwards. The generation before us was inspired by an activism and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-nation-is-burdened-with-the-heavy-curse-on-those-who-come/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [Whenever known and sufficient causes are available, it is anti-scientific to discard them in favour of a hypothesis that can never be verified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/whenever-known-and-sufficient-causes-are-available-it-is-anti/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [ \[In\] the realm of science, ... what we have achieved will be obsolete in ten, twenty or fifty years. That is the fate, indeed,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/in-the-realm-of-science-what-we-have-achieved-will-be-obsolete-in-ten/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [The experience of the irrationality of the world has been the driving force of all religious revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-experience-of-the-irrationality-of-the-world-has-been-the-driving/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [Ideas come when we do not expect them, and not when we are brooding and searching at our desks. Yet ideas would certainly not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/ideas-come-when-we-do-not-expect-them-and-not-when-we-are-brooding/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [ The summum bonum of this \[Puritan\] ethic is the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all enjoyment. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-summum-bonum-of-this-puritan-ethic-is-the-earning-of-more-and/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization and intellectualization and, above all, by the 'disenchantment of the world.' Precisely the ultimate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-fate-of-our-times-is-characterized-by-rationalization-and/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [Daily and hourly, the politician inwardly has to overcome a quite trivial and all-too-human enemy: a quite vulgar vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/daily-and-hourly-the-politician-inwardly-has-to-overcome-a-quite/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [“The ultimately possible attitudes toward life are irreconcilable, and hence their struggle can never be brought to a final conclusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-ultimately-possible-attitudes-toward-life-are-irreconcilable-and/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [Power is the chance to impose your will within a social context, even when opposed and regardless of the integrity of that chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/power-is-the-chance-to-impose-your-will-within-a-social-context-even/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [“Judgments of the importance of a historical phenomena may be judgments of value or faith, namely, when they refer to what is alone interesting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/judgments-of-the-importance-of-a-historical-phenomena-may-be/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [Causal analysis provides absolutely no value judgment, and a value judgment is absolutely not a causal explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/causal-analysis-provides-absolutely-no-value-judgment-and-a-value/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) [Explore all 77 Max Weber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) ## More Astonishing quotes > [It's astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way. That's why a reporter's job, as you know, is such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/it-s-astonishing-what-you-learn-and-feel-and-see-along-the-way-that-s/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, The Headmaster's Wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime Saigon in the story of Percival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-y-k-lee-2/a-first-novel-of-astonishing-force-craft-and-beauty-the-headmaster-s/) Janice Y. K. Lee > [“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-astonishing-is-that-we-who-had-no-idea-how-anything-was-going/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [It was astonishing when at one point, I got the idea of how to make artifical clouds with a collaborator, we had pictures made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/it-was-astonishing-when-at-one-point-i-got-the-idea-of-how-to-make/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The astonishing thing for me is that I had a career before politics and I never thought about my colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gyimah/the-astonishing-thing-for-me-is-that-i-had-a-career-before-politics/) [Sam Gyimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gyimah/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It's Twitter's combination of simplicity and complexity that is astonishing in the same way that minimalist sculpture was inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/it-s-twitter-s-combination-of-simplicity-and-complexity-that-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/all-that-we-don-t-know-is-astonishing-even-more-astonishing-is-what/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy which we call mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/still-more-astonishing-is-that-world-of-rigorous-fantasy-which-we/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [“No one ever said aloud any of the kinds of things he was so constantly thinking, because no one in the parish, not Alice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/no-one-ever-said-aloud-any-of-the-kinds-of-things-he-was-so/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [If you worry less about what people think of you, you can pick up an astonishing amount of information about them. You no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/if-you-worry-less-about-what-people-think-of-you-you-can-pick-up-an/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [The Bureau of Justice reports that one in three black male babies born this century will go to jail or prison - that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/the-bureau-of-justice-reports-that-one-in-three-black-male-babies/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) Browse all 410 Astonishing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who have become human failures and worthless men. 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