Original artwork, not a still
Parallel Lives • 110
Thus our judgments, if they do not borrow from reason and philosophy a fixity and steadiness of purpose in their acts, are easily swayed and influenced by the praise or blame of others, which make us distrust our own opinions.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Without reasoned, philosophical firmness behind our actions, the speaker argues, our judgments bend with whatever others say. Praise and blame push us around, and the result is doubt about our own opinions. Steadiness of purpose has to come from within, not from applause or criticism.
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