Family life Quote by Susan Jacoby
““Ingersoll’s spotless reputation as a husband and father was a source of considerable frustration to those who would have loved to catch him in bed, dead or alive, with a young woman. One conservative critic, miffed by the many references in Ingersoll’s obituaries to his happy family life, grumbled that it was “not easy to perceive just why his private virtues have been so breathlessly brought forward and detailed with so much strenuous insistence; for surely husbands who are faithful, fathers who are loving, and friends who are generous and sympathetic, are not so rare in this our world as to make of them phenomena to be noted in the annals of the age.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Age of Persuasion by Susan Jacoby, 2005
The quote highlights how society often sensationalizes the virtue of a faithful husband and father, treating it as an unusual rarity despite its commonality.
In simple terms: Society treats faithful husbands as rare.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value everyday virtue.
Themes
societal expectations
celebration of virtue
media bias
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
observational
commentary
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- family therapy
- media analysis
- historical study
- social commentary
Key Concepts
norms
exceptionalism
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance admiration with realistic expectations?
- What other virtues are similarly exaggerated?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the complexity of individuals beyond their public image.
