In general, every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.
1840s, Essays: First Series (1841), Compensation
Kontext: Our strength grows out of our weakness. The indignation which arms itself with secret forces does not awaken until we are pricked and stung and sorely assailed. A great man is always willing to be little. Whilst he sits on the cushion of advantages, he goes to sleep. When he is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits, on his manhood; he has gained facts; learns his ignorance; is cured of the insanity of conceit; has got moderation and real skill. The wise man throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his interest than it is theirs to find his weak point. The wound cicatrizes and falls off from him like a dead skin, and when they would triumph, lo! he has passed on invulnerable. Blame is safer than praise. I hate to be defended in a newspaper. As long as all that is said is said against me, I feel a certain assurance of success. But as soon as honeyed words of praise are spoken for me, I feel as one that lies unprotected before his enemies. In general, every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.
„Obecně platí, že shovívavost pro ty, které známe, je vzácnější, než lítost pro ty, které neznáme.“
„Ať platí víc jasný rozum než obecné mínění.“
Mylná tolerance obřích dluhů, MF Dnes, 16. 10. 2020
Zdroj: Klaus V.: Myšlenky, Institut Václava Klause, 2021, str. 135
„Já i veřejnost víme, co se učí všichni žáci:
Ti, kterým se děje zlo, dělají zlo na oplátku.“
z dopisu olomouckému arcibiskupu Leopoldu Prečanovi, 1940
Zdroj: Zemský archiv Opava (pob. Olomouc), fond Arcibiskupství Olomouc, inv. č. 2710, karton č. 1511, Zprávy o Matici CM z let 1927 až 1949, dopis předsedy MCM A. Štancla a jednatele S. Suchánka arcibiskupu Prečanovi, 26. 1. 1940.
Zdroj: S Tomášem Holubem o vojenských kaplanech i o katolické církvi http://www.rozhlas.cz/nabozenstvi/dotekyviry/_zprava/1023564, rozhlas.cz, 25. 2. 2012
