What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Men are not governed by justice, but by law or persuasion. When they refuse to be governed by law or persuasion, they have to be governed by force or fraud, or both.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that human behavior is shaped more by laws and persuasion than by a sense of justice.
George Bernard Shaw's quote highlights the complexities of human governance and societal order. It implies that while justice should ideally guide individuals' actions, in reality, humans are more effectively influenced by laws or persuasive arguments. When these fail to govern behavior, individuals resort to force or deceit, indicating a breakdown in moral and ethical considerations. This statement reflects on the nature of authority and the reasons behind human compliance or rebellion.
Themes
JusticeLawPersuasionForceFraud
In practice
Example use cases
To discuss the challenges of maintaining order in a society, especially in a political debate.
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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