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Quote by Edith Wharton

Work

The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton's classic novel depicts the intricate social dynamics and romantic entanglements of a young woman navigating the restrictive society of New York high society during the Gilded Age. more

Author

Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton

American novelist known for her delicate psychological portrayals and profound social insights. Edith Wharton came from a wealthy New York family and her works mainly reflect the American society at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Her representative works include 'The Age of Innocence' and 'The House of Mirth' among others. more

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“Everybody is condemned from his early childhood. Whatever he does on his own is not acceptable, because the crowd of people in which a child is born have their own ideas and ideals. The child has to fit with their ideas and ideals. The people who are in power are able to mold the child in the way they want. This is the psychology behind the fact that everybody wants to pretend to be what he is not.  They have never been allowed to be themselves. Each person has been made into somebody else. Everybody knows that they have been forced and molded into something that they are not. Nobody is themselves and nobody is at ease with themselves.”

“La signora Dambreuse stava vicino al fuoco, in mezzo a un semicerchio di una dozzina di persone. Con una parola cortese, gli fece cenno di sedere, ma senza parere meravigliata di non averlo veduto da un pezzo. Quand'egli entrò, stavano elogiando l'eloquenza dell'abate Coeur. Poi fu deplorata l'immoralità dei domestici, a proposito di un furto commesso da un cameriere; e i pettegolezzi si sgomitolarono. La vecchia signora di Sommer aveva un raffreddore, la signorina di Turvisot si maritava, i Montcharron non sarebbero tornati prima della fine di gennaio, e nemmeno i Bretancourt; era di moda trattenersi a lungo in campagna: e la miseria di quegli argomenti era come rinforzata dal lusso delle cose circostanti, ma ciò che si diceva era meno stupido del modo in cui si diceva, senza scopo, senza nesso, senza slancio. Eppure, c'erano uomini pratici della vita, un ex ministro, il curato di una grande parrocchia, due o tre alti funzionari del governo: ma si tenevano ai più triti luoghi comuni. Alcuni somigliavano a ricche vedove stanche, altri avevano modi da sensali, alcuni vegliardi accompagnavano mogli, delle quali avrebbero potuto farsi passare per nonni. La signora Dambreuse intratteneva tutti con grazia. Quando si parlava di un malato, aggrottava dolorosamente le sopracciglia; prendeva un'aria gioconda se si trattava di balli e di serate. Ella avrebbe dovuto presto privarsene, perché stava per far uscire di collegio una nipote di suo marito, un'orfana. Esaltarono il suo sacrificio: quello sì che era un condursi da madre di famiglia.”

“Here's the difference between knowledge and wisdom, if I told you to go grab a big bag of knowledge and bring it back to me you would find it will contain some truth and a lot of untruths. But if I told you to go grab me a big bag of wisdom and bring it back to me you would find that it's full of nothing but the truth. Knowledge does not require truth, but wisdom is always universally true. When you gain wisdom, you get a sense that you've truly only learned something that you already knew was true. This is why...Knowledge is of the past, Wisdom is of the future. We find Tribal Existence when we Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Our collective wisdom is an antidote to a society gone mad, Rules often fail us, and incentives often backfire, But our collective wisdom can and will help rebuild our mad world.”

“Social Media Is giving everyone power and sometimes that power goes to the wrong people. A mental , unstable or Insane person, who has a lot of followers or fans on social media. Has more power, control and Is believable more than a normal, sane civilize person. That person is setting up standards and principles for normal civilized people In the society and everyone follows , because of majority rules. Nowadays we are not even surprised by people doing crazy things. It is how crazy can you be. That Is why today laws are changed. People are doing weird stuff and are uncultured, ungovernable, ill disciple, reckless, negligent, dangerous, ill mannered and not respectful. It is not doing something right, but It is doing something everyone Is doing.”