A person usually has two reasons for doing something: a good reason and the real reason.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Human actions often stem from a socially acceptable reason and a hidden, genuine motive.
- In plain terms
- People give a polite reason and hide the real one.
- What can you take from it?
- Look beyond stated reasons to find motives.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What hides behind good reasons?
- How honest are your motives?
Another view
Sometimes people act for only one clear reason.
More from Thomas Carlyle
Captains of Industry.
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Permalink to quote #97 He who takes not counsel of the Unseen and Silent, from him will never come real visibility and speech.
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