What a test that is: more than devotion, admiration, passion. If you long and long for someone’s company you love them.
Iris MurdochRead
We are all the judges and the judged, victims of the casual malice and fantasy of others, and ready sources of fantasy and malice in our turn. And if we are sometimes accused of sins of which we are innocent, are there not also other sins of which we are guilty and of which the world knows nothing?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the dual nature of human morality, suggesting that everyone is both a judge and a judged, trapped in cycles of blame and innocence.
Iris Murdoch's quote explores the complexity of human morality, emphasizing that individuals often play dual roles in society—as both judges and judged. It points to the inherent flaws in human judgment, noting that we may unfairly judge others while being judged ourselves. The quote further conveys the idea that while we might be innocent of certain accusations, we still harbor unrecognized faults, implying a pervasive human tendency to harbor malice and engage in fantasy, affecting both ourselves and others.
Themes
MoralityJudgmentHuman NatureFantasyInnocenceGuilt
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about human behavior, one might quote this to illustrate the complexity of moral judgment.
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