“Od nekdaj mi je bila uganka, kako se lahko nekdo čuti počaščenega s ponizanjem bliznjega.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Slovenian translation of a genuine Gandhi autobiography line: 'It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel honoured by the humiliation of their fellow-beings.'
About this quote
There's a strange arithmetic in imagining that pushing someone down lifts you up; the standing gained that way is borrowed and hollow. Real honor comes from what you build or protect, not from a rival's shame, and contempt for others usually signals insecurity rather than strength.
When to use it
- A manager who mocks junior staff in meetings feels powerful for a moment but loses the team's respect.
- A student who belittles a struggling classmate gains nothing real, only a reputation for cruelty.
- During an argument, tearing down a partner's character wins the round yet quietly damages the marriage.