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About this quote

What does it mean?
People often blame others for their actions, seeing responsibility as external, like a child blaming a nearby adult for a mistake.
In plain terms
People tend to attribute their behavior to others, not themselves, similar to a child blaming a nearby adult.
What can you take from it?
Recognize personal responsibility rather than shifting blame.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • self‑reflection

Putting it to work

  • practice accountability
  • avoid scapegoating

Questions to consider

  • When do you tend to blame others?
  • How can you own your actions more fully?

Another view

Some situations involve genuine external influence, not just self‑blame.

More from Orson Scott Card

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  2. Sometimes those who care for the whole community must act in a way that harms the individual. For a good man it never becomes easy and he avoids it when he can…

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  3. What cannot be healed has been healed. What was lost forever has been found. Therefore let that which cannot be forgiven be forgiven.

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