Where everything is bad it must be good to know the worst.
F. H. BradleyRead
The hunter for aphorisms on human nature has to fish in muddy water, and he is even condemned to find much of his own mind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding human nature requires delving into complex and unclear aspects of existence.
F. H. Bradley's quote suggests that exploring human nature and trying to articulate profound truths is a challenging endeavor, often muddied by personal biases and subjective opinions. The act of seeking wisdom about humanity is akin to fishing in murky waters, where clarity is hard to find, and one may frequently encounter reflections of their own thoughts rather than objective truths.
Themes
Human NatureAphorismsWisdomPhilosophySubjectivity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the complexities of understanding why people act the way they do.
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True penitence condemns to silence. What a man is ready to recall he would be willing to repeat.
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Our live experiences, fixed in aphorisms, stiffen into cold epigrams. Our heart's blood, as we write it, turns to mere dull ink.
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Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe on instinct.
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One said of suicide, As long as one has brains one should not blow them out. And another answered, But when one has ceased to have them, too often one cannot.
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