---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since every man is obliged to promote…"
description: "\"Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/samuel-johnson-50_be-careful_since-every-man-is-obliged-to-promote-ha_1363087.png"
---

#  Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and…

![“Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/samuel-johnson-50_be-careful_since-every-man-is-obliged-to-promote-ha_1363087.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/samuel-johnson-50_be-careful_since-every-man-is-obliged-to-promote-ha_1363087.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/samuel-johnson-50_be-careful_since-every-man-is-obliged-to-promote-ha_1363087.png)

> “Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.”

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People should avoid overstating the value of things lacking true merit, lest they mislead others seeking genuine excellence.

**In simple terms:** Don’t overvalue the mediocre.

Key Takeaway

Seek true quality, not false prestige.

Themes

ethics philosophy virtue

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- education
- consumer decisions
- leadership
- public discourse

Key Concepts

value judgment critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you discern genuine merit?
- When have you been misled by hype?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure often inflates perceived value.

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[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/)

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