Popularity is a crime from the moment it is sought; it is only a virtue where men have it whether they will or no.
George SavileRead
The sight of a drunkard is a better sermon against that vice than the best that was ever preached on that subject.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The visibility of a drunkard serves as a more powerful warning against drunkenness than any lecture could.
George Savile's quote suggests that real-life examples, particularly the negative consequences of vice, can be more impactful than mere words or sermons. Observing someone suffering from the effects of alcoholism serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of that vice, imparting wisdom that potentially leads to personal reflection and change more effectively than a moral admonishment would.
Themes
DrunkennessViceWisdomSermonExample
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the dangers of alcohol, this quote could serve as a powerful illustration.
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But knowing what I don’t want to do doesn’t help me figure out what I do want to do. I could do just about anything if somebody made me. But I don’t have an image of the one thing I really want to do. That’s my problem now. I can’t find the image.
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When you respond to life, that's positive; when you react to life, that's negative.
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I have studied the enemy all my life. I have read the memoirs of his generals and his leaders. I have even read his philosophers and listened to his music. I have studied in detail the account of every damned one of his battles. I know exactly how he will react under any given set of circumstances. And he hasn't the slightest idea of what I'm going to do. So when the time comes, I'm going to whip the hell out of him.
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The more violent the storm, the quicker it passes.
Paulo CoelhoRead
I've always felt that a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.
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Reality - the way that is, exactly as it is, in every moment - is always kind. It's our story about reality that blurs our vision, obscures what's true, and leads us to believe that there is injustice in the world. I sometimes say that you move totally away from reality when you believe that there is a legitimate reason to suffer.
Byron KatieRead