People most strenuously seek to evaluate performance by comparing themselves to others, not by using absolute standards.
Leon FestingerRead
A MAN WITH A CONVICTION is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People with strong beliefs are often resistant to change and dismissive of opposing viewpoints.
This quote by Leon Festinger emphasizes the stubborn nature of individuals who hold firm convictions. It suggests that such people are emotionally invested in their beliefs, making them unlikely to accept differing opinions, even when presented with logical arguments or evidence. Their unwillingness to consider alternative perspectives can lead to closed-mindedness and an inability to engage meaningfully in discussions that challenge their views.
Themes
ConvictionBeliefsChangeStubbornnessOpen-Mindedness
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting discussing project changes, one might use this quote to highlight the resistance some team members show towards new ideas.
More from Leon Festinger
All quotes →I prefer to rely on my memory. I have lived with that memory a long time, I am used to it, and if I have rearranged or distorted anything, surely that was done for my own benefit.
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