Acceptable Quote by Pamela Hansford Johnson
“There are few things more disturbing than to find, in somebody we detest, a moral quality which seems to us demonstrably superior to anything we ourselves possess. It augurs not merely an unfairness on the part of creation, but a lack of artistic judgment. Sainthood is acceptable only in saints.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Uncertain Places, Pamela Hansford Johnson, 1951
Finding admirable traits in someone we despise challenges our sense of fairness and artistic judgment, suggesting bias in moral evaluation.
In simple terms: Admiring foes feels unfair and shows bias.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias when judging others.
Themes
morality
bias
artistic judgment
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- self‑reflection
- critical reading
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we resent admirable qualities in enemies?
- How can we assess merit impartially?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex characters.
![“In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing about this election - is that once there's an incumbent running for reelection, most of the debate is about, "Has he [Barack Obama] done a…” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/william-kristol-9091_acceptable_in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elect_36353.jpg)