#selfjustification — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

EXPEDIENCY, n. The father of all virtues.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Expediency,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1884-06-07)

More about this quote: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/85383…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #ambrosebierce #devilsdictionary #convenience #excuse #expediency #justification #opportunism #pragmatism #rationale #selfinterest #selfjustification #virtue

A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

EXPEDIENCY, n. The father of all virtues.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Expediency,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1884-06-07)

More about this quote: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/85383…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #ambrosebierce #devilsdictionary #convenience #excuse #expediency #justification #opportunism #pragmatism #rationale #selfinterest #selfjustification #virtue

A quotation from Euripides

JASON: O children, what a wicked mother she was to you!
MEDEA: They died from a disease they caught from their father.
JASON: I tell you it was not my hand that destroyed them.
MEDEA: But it was your insolence, and your virgin wedding.
JASON: And just for the sake of that you chose to kill them.
MEDEA: Is love so small a pain, do you think, for a woman?
 
[ἸΆΣΩΝ: ὦ τέκνα, μητρὸς ὡς κακῆς ἐκύρσατε.
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: ὦ παῖδες, ὡς ὤλεσθε πατρῴᾳ νόσῳ.
ἸΆΣΩΝ: οὔτοι νιν ἡμὴ δεξιά γ᾽ ἀπώλεσεν.
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: ἀλλ᾽ ὕβρις οἵ τε σοὶ νεοδμῆτες γάμοι.
ἸΆΣΩΝ: λέχους σφε κἠξίωσας οὕνεκα κτανεῖν;
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: σμικρὸν γυναικὶ πῆμα τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι δοκεῖς;]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 1363ff (431 BC) [tr. Warner (1944)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/85067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #medea #accusation #argument #betrayal #blame #blamethevictim #desertion #father #injury #mother #perspective #selfjustification #suffering #women

A quotation from Euripides

JASON: O children, what a wicked mother she was to you!
MEDEA: They died from a disease they caught from their father.
JASON: I tell you it was not my hand that destroyed them.
MEDEA: But it was your insolence, and your virgin wedding.
JASON: And just for the sake of that you chose to kill them.
MEDEA: Is love so small a pain, do you think, for a woman?
 
[ἸΆΣΩΝ: ὦ τέκνα, μητρὸς ὡς κακῆς ἐκύρσατε.
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: ὦ παῖδες, ὡς ὤλεσθε πατρῴᾳ νόσῳ.
ἸΆΣΩΝ: οὔτοι νιν ἡμὴ δεξιά γ᾽ ἀπώλεσεν.
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: ἀλλ᾽ ὕβρις οἵ τε σοὶ νεοδμῆτες γάμοι.
ἸΆΣΩΝ: λέχους σφε κἠξίωσας οὕνεκα κτανεῖν;
ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: σμικρὸν γυναικὶ πῆμα τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι δοκεῖς;]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 1363ff (431 BC) [tr. Warner (1944)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/85067/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #medea #accusation #argument #betrayal #blame #blamethevictim #desertion #father #injury #mother #perspective #selfjustification #suffering #women

A quotation from Euripides

MEDEA: Women, my task is fixed: as quickly as I may
   To kill my children, and start away from this land,
   And not, by wasting time, to suffer my children
   To be slain by another hand less kindly to them.
   Force every way will have it they must die, and since
   This must be so, then I, their mother, shall kill them.
   Oh, arm yourself in steel, my heart! Do not hang back
   From doing this fearful and necessary wrong.
   Oh, come, my hand, poor wretched hand, and take the sword,
   Take it, step forward to this bitter starting point,
   And do not be a coward, do not think of them,
   How sweet they are, and how you are their mother. Just for
   This one short day be forgetful of your children,
   Afterward weep; for even though you will kill them,
   They were very dear — Oh, I am an unhappy woman!
      (With a cry she rushes into the house.)
   
[ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: φίλαι, δέδοκται τοὔργον ὡς τάχιστά μοι
   παῖδας κτανούσῃ τῆσδ᾽ ἀφορμᾶσθαι χθονός,
   καὶ μὴ σχολὴν ἄγουσαν ἐκδοῦναι τέκνα
   ἄλλῃ φονεῦσαι δυσμενεστέρᾳ χερί.
   πάντως σφ᾽ ἀνάγκη κατθανεῖν: ἐπεὶ δὲ χρή,
   ἀλλ᾽ εἶ᾽ ὁπλίζου, καρδία: τί μέλλομεν
   τὰ δεινὰ κἀναγκαῖα μὴ πράσσειν κακά;
   ἄγ᾽, ὦ τάλαινα χεὶρ ἐμή, λαβὲ ξίφος,
   λάβ᾽, ἕρπε πρὸς βαλβῖδα λυπηρὰν βίου,
   καὶ μὴ κακισθῇς μηδ᾽ ἀναμνησθῇς τέκνων,
   ὡς φίλταθ᾽, ὡς ἔτικτες, ἀλλὰ τήνδε γε
   λαθοῦ βραχεῖαν ἡμέραν παίδων σέθεν
   κἄπειτα θρήνει: καὶ γὰρ εἰ κτενεῖς σφ᾽, ὅμως
   φίλοι γ᾽ ἔφυσαν: δυστυχὴς δ᾽ ἐγὼ γυνή.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 1236ff (431 BC) [tr. Warner (1944)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/84979/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #excuse #filicide #killing #murder #necessity #selfjustification #selfrationalization #tragedy

A quotation from Euripides

MEDEA: Women, my task is fixed: as quickly as I may
   To kill my children, and start away from this land,
   And not, by wasting time, to suffer my children
   To be slain by another hand less kindly to them.
   Force every way will have it they must die, and since
   This must be so, then I, their mother, shall kill them.
   Oh, arm yourself in steel, my heart! Do not hang back
   From doing this fearful and necessary wrong.
   Oh, come, my hand, poor wretched hand, and take the sword,
   Take it, step forward to this bitter starting point,
   And do not be a coward, do not think of them,
   How sweet they are, and how you are their mother. Just for
   This one short day be forgetful of your children,
   Afterward weep; for even though you will kill them,
   They were very dear — Oh, I am an unhappy woman!
      (With a cry she rushes into the house.)
   
[ΜΉΔΕΙΑ: φίλαι, δέδοκται τοὔργον ὡς τάχιστά μοι
   παῖδας κτανούσῃ τῆσδ᾽ ἀφορμᾶσθαι χθονός,
   καὶ μὴ σχολὴν ἄγουσαν ἐκδοῦναι τέκνα
   ἄλλῃ φονεῦσαι δυσμενεστέρᾳ χερί.
   πάντως σφ᾽ ἀνάγκη κατθανεῖν: ἐπεὶ δὲ χρή,
   ἀλλ᾽ εἶ᾽ ὁπλίζου, καρδία: τί μέλλομεν
   τὰ δεινὰ κἀναγκαῖα μὴ πράσσειν κακά;
   ἄγ᾽, ὦ τάλαινα χεὶρ ἐμή, λαβὲ ξίφος,
   λάβ᾽, ἕρπε πρὸς βαλβῖδα λυπηρὰν βίου,
   καὶ μὴ κακισθῇς μηδ᾽ ἀναμνησθῇς τέκνων,
   ὡς φίλταθ᾽, ὡς ἔτικτες, ἀλλὰ τήνδε γε
   λαθοῦ βραχεῖαν ἡμέραν παίδων σέθεν
   κἄπειτα θρήνει: καὶ γὰρ εἰ κτενεῖς σφ᾽, ὅμως
   φίλοι γ᾽ ἔφυσαν: δυστυχὴς δ᾽ ἐγὼ γυνή.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 1236ff (431 BC) [tr. Warner (1944)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/84979/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #excuse #filicide #killing #murder #necessity #selfjustification #selfrationalization #tragedy

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 260 (1955)

More about this quote: wist.info/hoffer-eric/19134/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #erichoffer #agitprop #belief #bias #confirmationbias #disinformation #prejudice #propaganda #selfdeception #selfjustification

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 260 (1955)

More about this quote: wist.info/hoffer-eric/19134/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #erichoffer #agitprop #belief #bias #confirmationbias #disinformation #prejudice #propaganda #selfdeception #selfjustification

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 260 (1955)

More about this quote: wist.info/hoffer-eric/19134/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #erichoffer #agitprop #belief #bias #confirmationbias #disinformation #prejudice #propaganda #selfdeception #selfjustification

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@briankrebs/116025670875222632

"I am generally wary of any industry that claims you need more of what it is selling just so you can offset the negative externalities caused by the unbridled use of its technology."

#AI #Anthropic #SelfJustification

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@briankrebs/116025670875222632

"I am generally wary of any industry that claims you need more of what it is selling just so you can offset the negative externalities caused by the unbridled use of its technology."

#AI #Anthropic #SelfJustification

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@briankrebs/116025670875222632

"I am generally wary of any industry that claims you need more of what it is selling just so you can offset the negative externalities caused by the unbridled use of its technology."

#AI #Anthropic #SelfJustification

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

What stuck in the minds of these men who had become murderers was simply the notion of being involved in something historic, grandiose, unique (“a great task that occurs once in two thousand years”), which must therefore be difficult to bear. This was important, because the murderers were not sadists or killers by nature; on the contrary, a systematic effort was made to weed out all those who derived physical pleasure from what they did. The troops of the Einsatzgruppen had been drafted from the Armed S.S., a military unit with hardly more crimes in its record than any ordinary unit of the German Army, and their commanders had been chosen by Heydrich from the S.S. élite with academic degrees. Hence the problem was how to overcome not so much their conscience as the animal pity by which all normal men are affected in the presence of physical suffering. The trick used by Himmler — who apparently was rather strongly afflicted by these instinctive reactions himself — was very simple and probably very effective; it consisted in turning these instincts around, as it were, in directing them toward the self. So that instead of saying: What horrible things I did to people!, the murderers would be able to say: What horrible things I had to watch in the pursuance of my duties, how heavily the task weighed upon my shoulders!

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, ch. 6 (1963)

More info about this quote: wist.info/arendt-hannah/13940/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #hannaharendt #banalityofevil #burden #difficulty #duty #genocide #Holocaust #killer #murder #murderer #persuasion #pity #selfcenteredness #selfdeception #selfpity #task #selfjustification

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

What stuck in the minds of these men who had become murderers was simply the notion of being involved in something historic, grandiose, unique (“a great task that occurs once in two thousand years”), which must therefore be difficult to bear. This was important, because the murderers were not sadists or killers by nature; on the contrary, a systematic effort was made to weed out all those who derived physical pleasure from what they did. The troops of the Einsatzgruppen had been drafted from the Armed S.S., a military unit with hardly more crimes in its record than any ordinary unit of the German Army, and their commanders had been chosen by Heydrich from the S.S. élite with academic degrees. Hence the problem was how to overcome not so much their conscience as the animal pity by which all normal men are affected in the presence of physical suffering. The trick used by Himmler — who apparently was rather strongly afflicted by these instinctive reactions himself — was very simple and probably very effective; it consisted in turning these instincts around, as it were, in directing them toward the self. So that instead of saying: What horrible things I did to people!, the murderers would be able to say: What horrible things I had to watch in the pursuance of my duties, how heavily the task weighed upon my shoulders!

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, ch. 6 (1963)

More info about this quote: wist.info/arendt-hannah/13940/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #hannaharendt #banalityofevil #burden #difficulty #duty #genocide #Holocaust #killer #murder #murderer #persuasion #pity #selfcenteredness #selfdeception #selfpity #task #selfjustification

TFW your brilliant idea is voting for a rapey, narcissistic pedophile fraudster, because he won't get along well with all the psychopaths the GOP embraces, both at home and abroad, and *might* be willing to help the US, while he serves himself.
#selfJustification #pretzellogic

TFW your brilliant idea is voting for a rapey, narcissistic pedophile fraudster, because he won't get along well with all the psychopaths the GOP embraces, both at home and abroad, and *might* be willing to help the US, while he serves himself.
#selfJustification #pretzellogic

TFW your brilliant idea is voting for a rapey, narcissistic pedophile fraudster, because he won't get along well with all the psychopaths the GOP embraces, both at home and abroad, and *might* be willing to help the US, while he serves himself.
#selfJustification #pretzellogic

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, thus the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. […] Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Essay (1964-08), “Personal Responsibility Under Dictatorship,” The Listener Magazine

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/arendt-hannah/45553/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #arendt #hannaharendt #binary #brightline #choice #evil #goodandevil #lesserevil #lesseroftwoevils #morality #necessaryevil #rationalization #selfjustification

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, thus the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. […] Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Essay (1964-08), “Personal Responsibility Under Dictatorship,” The Listener Magazine

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/arendt-hannah/45553/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #arendt #hannaharendt #binary #brightline #choice #evil #goodandevil #lesserevil #lesseroftwoevils #morality #necessaryevil #rationalization #selfjustification

A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

RECONSIDER, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Reconsider,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/1073/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #ambrosebierce #devilsdictionary #afterthefact #confirmation #decision #decisionmaking #justification #reconsideration #selfjustification

A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

RECONSIDER, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Reconsider,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/1073/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #ambrosebierce #devilsdictionary #afterthefact #confirmation #decision #decisionmaking #justification #reconsideration #selfjustification

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and thus free ourselves from the responsibility for acts which are prompted by our own questionable inclinations and impulses. Both the strong and the weak grasp at this alibi. The latter hide their malevolence under the virtue of obedience: they acted dishonorably because they had to obey orders. The strong, too, claim absolution by proclaiming themselves the chosen instrument of a higher power — God, history, fate, nation or humanity.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 85 (1955)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/hoffer-eric/17587/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #destiny #excuse #instrument #justification #selfjustification #obedience #responsibility #powerlessness

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and thus free ourselves from the responsibility for acts which are prompted by our own questionable inclinations and impulses. Both the strong and the weak grasp at this alibi. The latter hide their malevolence under the virtue of obedience: they acted dishonorably because they had to obey orders. The strong, too, claim absolution by proclaiming themselves the chosen instrument of a higher power — God, history, fate, nation or humanity.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 85 (1955)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/hoffer-eric/17587/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #destiny #excuse #instrument #justification #selfjustification #obedience #responsibility #powerlessness

A quotation from A. R. Moxon

   Historians have a word for Germans who joined the Nazi party, not because they hated Jews, but out of a hope for restored patriotism, or a sense of economic anxiety, or a hope to preserve their religious values, or dislike of their opponents, or raw political opportunism, or convenience, or ignorance, or greed.
   That word is “Nazi.” Nobody cares about their motives any more.
   They joined what they joined. They lent their support and their moral approval. And, in so doing, they bound themselves to everything that came after. Who cares any more what particular knot they used in the binding?

Andrew R. Moxon (contemp.) American writer, critic [a.k.a. Julius Goat]
Essay (2017-01-16), “Sky,” Blogspot

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/moxon-a-r/38965/

#quote #quotes #quotation #approval #commitment #complicity #excuse #fascist
#fascism #history #selfjustification #Nazi #rationale #support

@esmie The word you’re looking for is “rationalization.” It’s when people explain their actions in a way that makes them seem okay, even if they’re not. They do this to feel better about themselves or to avoid feeling guilty or anxious.

#Rationalization #SelfJustification #GuiltAvoidance #AnxietyReduction

@esmie The word you’re looking for is “rationalization.” It’s when people explain their actions in a way that makes them seem okay, even if they’re not. They do this to feel better about themselves or to avoid feeling guilty or anxious.

#Rationalization #SelfJustification #GuiltAvoidance #AnxietyReduction

A quotation from Hoffer, Eric:

«
Propaganda thus serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel guilty, the more fervent our propaganda.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/hoffer-eric/19525/

#quote #quotes #quotation #conviction #guilt #persuasion #propaganda #selfjustification

A quotation from Byron, George Gordon, Lord:

«
I fear one lies more to one’s self than to anyone else.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/byron/30615/

#quote #quotes #quotation #deceit #integrity #lying #selfdeception #selfimage #selfjustification #selfawareness