Acquiescence Quote by William James
““The submission which you demand of yourself to the general fact of evil in the world, your apparent acquiescence in it, is here nothing but the conviction that evil at large is none of your business until your business with your private particular evils is liquidated and settled up.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Will to Believe, William James, 1896
We often ignore broader evil, focusing only on personal problems, believing larger wrongdoing isn’t our concern until our own issues are resolved.
In simple terms: People tend to ignore big problems until their own are fixed.
Key Takeaway
Consider larger issues even when personal troubles dominate.
Themes
responsibility
ethics
individualism
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- social activism
- community decision
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal struggles with societal responsibilities?
- What prevents you from addressing larger injustices?
A Different Perspective
Neglecting systemic evil can perpetuate harm.
![“[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/867/thomas-jefferson-43_acquiescence_the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is_244689.jpg)
