“I had always thought of woman as possessing those delicate qualities of mind and soul that made her in these respects far superior to man. I had put her on a lofty pedestal, figuratively speaking, and ranked her in certain important attributes considerably higher than man.”
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About this quote
Line exposes the habit of elevating others so high you stop seeing the real person. Stop mistaking flattering myths for honest appraisal and ask where idealization is hiding your own responsibility. Name the gap, face the truth, then act: replace excuses with clear, practical steps to change behavior and expectations.
When to use it
- In a team meeting, call out the tendency to idealize a colleague’s skills instead of assigning clear responsibilities and measurable goals.
- When choosing a partner, use the line to check if you’re worshiping an image rather than evaluating character and compatibility.
- Use it as a mirror in personal growth: stop blaming others’ supposed virtues for your own inaction and set a concrete plan for improvement.