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There is nothing so stupid or dangerous or painful that people wont eagerly do it, if by doing it they will make others believe that they are better or stronger or more honorable. I've seen people poison themselves, destroy their children, abandon their mates, cut themselves off from the world, all so that others would think that they were a better sort of person.

Orson Scott Card#998

TruthSacrificePridePretenseReputationImage

About this quote

What does it mean?
People harm themselves and others to project a better image to society.
In plain terms
People do bad things just to look good to others.
What can you take from it?
Ignore how you look; focus on being real.

Where it applies

  • career ambition
  • social climbing
  • family pressure

Putting it to work

  • drop the image
  • value honesty

Questions to consider

  • Why do you care what others think?
  • What cost are you paying for approval?

Another view

Sometimes status is necessary for survival.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. What are they afraid of? 'Dying first But they still die don't they?

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  2. Justice hates it when I make people obey me out of fear. She thinks it's ugly and not nice. She always used to make people obey her by changing what they wante…

    Permalink to quote #999
  3. You would turn away one who comes teaching the name of god? The wicked can use god's name as well as god How can we ever know, then, unless we try them? Or sho…

    Permalink to quote #996

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