Quote by Charles Dickens

It is known, to the force of a single pound weight, what the engine will do; but, not all the calculators of the National Debt can tell me the capacity for good or evil, for love or hatred, for patriotism or discontent, for the decomposition of virtue into vice, or the reverse.

It is known, to the force of a single pound weight, what the

Summary

This quote highlights the limitations of using quantitative measures, such as financial calculations, to understand the complexities of human behavior and society. It suggests that while we can accurately predict the power of an engine with a pound weight, we cannot accurately determine the capacity for abstract concepts like good and evil, love and hatred, or patriotism and discontent. It emphasizes the inherent difficulty in measuring and comprehending the intangible aspects of human nature and the unpredictable nature of human actions and emotions.

Topics

Feelings Values Pragmatism

By Charles Dickens

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