Absolutes Quote by William Hazlitt
“Society is a more level surface than we imagine. Wise men or absolute fools are hard to be met with, as there are few giants or dwarfs. The heaviest charge we can bring against the general texture of society is that it is commonplace. Our fancied superiority to others is in some one thing which we think most of because we excel in it, or have paid most attention to it; whilst we overlook their superiority to us in something else which they set equal and exclusive store by.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "On the Superiority of the Commonplace", 1825
Society appears uniform, but hidden hierarchies exist; we often overvalue our own strengths while ignoring others' superior traits.
In simple terms: We think society is equal but miss hidden strengths.
Key Takeaway
Recognize others' hidden talents.
Themes
society
humility
perception
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- teamwork
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- diversity training
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
bias
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What strengths do you overlook in others?
- How can you balance self‑confidence with humility?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on self can blind us to others' contributions.
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