Half of the secular unrest and dismal, profane sadness of modern society comes from the vain ideas that every man is bound to be a critic for life.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Modern society's sadness comes from people thinking they must criticize everything.
- In plain terms
- People feel bad because they think they must always criticize.
- What can you take from it?
- Stop feeling forced to be a critic to reduce sadness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is being critical a burden or a duty?
- How does constant criticism affect you?
Another view
Criticism is sometimes necessary for progress and accountability.
More from Henry van Dyke
Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.
Permalink to quote #37 He that planteth a tree is a servant of God, he provideth a kindness for many generations, and faces that he haith not seen shall bless him.
Permalink to quote #39 As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.
Permalink to quote #36
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