Attention Quote by Sydney J. Harris
“No one should pay attention to a man delivering a lecture or a sermon on his "philosophy of life" until we know exactly how he treats his wife, his children, his neighbors, his friends, his subordinates and his enemies.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Measure of a Man, 1975
Judging a person’s philosophy requires observing how they treat close ones and adversaries.
In simple terms: Actions toward others reveal true philosophy.
Key Takeaway
Observe behavior.
Themes
ethics
leadership
character
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
ethical
observational
When to use this quote
- family life
- workplace
- community service
- political leadership
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess consistency between words and deeds?
- What signs indicate genuine character?
A Different Perspective
May ignore private complexities.
![“My philosophy on life is that we're here to love and to learn. And I've learned a lot, so I can't say "I wish this didn't happen or I didn't make that movie." And I take responsibility for being open [about relationships] in the past. I have to, and now I'm doing what I can to make it different.” quote by Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/82c/jennifer-lopez-1227_different_my-philosophy-on-life-is-that-we-re-here_239366.jpg)
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
