Quotes About Rationalization

People are less rational than they are adept at rationalizing--explaining away discrepancies between their private morality and actions contrary to it.

People go down bad paths and they make bad decisions, but it's always justified in their head.

Our species is gifted where it comes to interpreting doctrine so as to justify whatever one wants to do.

You've taken millions—hundreds of millions—of people who've never had an original thought in their lives and suddenly thrown their brains into high gear. They start thinking—but what basis have they got? They still retain the old superstitions, prejudices, hates and fears and greeds, and most of their new mental energy goes to elaborate rationalization of these.

ninety-nine per cent of the human race, no matter how smart they are, will do the convenient thing instead of the wise thing, and kid themselves into thinking they can somehow escape the consequences.

Every vice has its excuse ready.

The mind controlled by lust has an infinite capacity for rationalization.

the bold sensualist will use the name of philosophy to gild his crimes.

Tolstoy said, "The antagonism between life and conscience may be removed in two ways: by a change of life or by a change of conscience." Many of us have elected to adjust our consciences rather than our lives. Our powers of rationalization allow us to live in luxury and indifference while others, whom we could help if we chose to, go hungry, are abused and exploited, or go to Hell.

The end result is spirituality without dogma, religion without God, argument without substance, rationalization without rationality, and tranquillity by transfer of funds from the seeker's bank account to the company that makes the best offer of nirvana, at the same time producing dogmatism about relativism in matters of ultimate meaning.

We lie to ourselves here. Maybe we are here because we lie to ourselves.

The attentive System 2 is who we think we are. System 2 articulates judgments and makes choices, but it often endorses or rationalizes ideas and feelings that were generated by System 1. You may not know that you are optimistic about a project because something about its leader reminds you of your beloved sister, or that you dislike a person who looks vaguely like your dentist.

The basic response stages to killing in combat are concern about killing, the actual kill, exhilaration, remorse, and rationalization and acceptance.

Like David we have a number of self-destructive options we use to avoid repenting and admitting sin. I'll list them and let you come up with personal examples for each: deny, avoid, blame shift, rationalize, and give excuses. If you can't think of how you've used these, you may be stuck in denial!

those with the most passionate convictions can justify the most savage cruelties.

We are so clothed in rationalization and dissemblance that we can recognize but dimly the deep primal impulses that motivate us.

You can be seduced to do this," Zimbardo added. "It's easy for people to delude themselves into thinking that they will be the ones who will do it the right way. Self-delusion is a powerful force for evil.

But how," said Charles, who was close to tears, "how can you possibly justify cold-blooded murder?" Henry lit a cigarette. "I prefer

people's natural predisposition not to see anything they don't want to, weren't expecting or can't explain.

Human beings," he said, "have a bottomless capacity for rationalization and self-deception.

It is easier to commit murder than to justify it.

If you assume away most or all of the questions or difficulties, you can persuade yourself of just about anything.

It is function of government to invent philosophies to explain the demands of its own convenience.

First you decide to suffer, then search for reasons that justify your suffering!