Men Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Men wish to be saved from the mischiefs of their vices, but not from their vices.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self‑Reliance, 1841
People often seek salvation from their own flaws yet resist confronting those flaws directly.
In simple terms: Want help from vices but not from the vices themselves.
Key Takeaway
Face and correct personal flaws directly.
Themes
self‑awareness
virtue
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What vices do you resist changing?
- How can you accept help for your own flaws?
A Different Perspective
May ignore systemic factors influencing behavior.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)