quotations about rationalization
The sad but amusing side of rationalization is thinking that you are brilliant while you are acting foolishly.
GILBERT BEERS & RON BEERS
The One Year Mini for Men
Rationalization is foreplay with one's conscience.
DOUG COOPER
Outside In
Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal.
ROBERT A. HEINLEIN
Assignment in Eternity
The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change.
EZRA TAFT BENSON
The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
The ego is a mean mechanism which mobilizes the absolute strongest rationalization traps in order to preserve itself.
JOHN DUOVER
Rites
Rationalization is covering up of mistake by the cunning mind.
P. V. S. SURYANARAYANA RAJU
Self-Inquiry Quotes
Rationalizing is the very opposite of reasoning; whereas reasoning works from evidence to conclusion, rationalizing works from conclusion to evidence. That is, rationalizing starts with what we want to be so and then selectively compiles "evidence" to prove that it is so.
VINCENT RYAN RUGGERIO
Beyond Feeling: A Guide to Critical Thinking
Rationalization may be defined as self-deception by reasoning.
KAREN HORNEY
Our Inner Conflicts
Rationalization: allowing my mind to find reason to excuse what my spirit knows is wrong.
BRUCE EAMON BROWN
1001 Motivational Messages and Quotations for Athletes and Coaches
Everybody makes excuses for themselves they wouldn't be prepared to make for other people.
REBECCA GOLDSTEIN
Plato at the Googleplex
The so-called lessons of history are for the most part the rationalization of the victors.
MAX LERNER
attributed, Pacific Views
Of course, that rationalization didn't work at all. It would have helped if I'd had some Oreo cookie ice cream to eat that the same time. I've learned that self-delusion is much easier when there's something sweet in your mouth.
LEE GOLDBERG
Mr. Monk on the Couch
Procrastination of any decision leads to the rationalization of failure.
TUCHY PALMIERI
Tuchy's Law and Other Contrarian Quotes to Help You in Life's Journey
Deification of accidents serves of course as rationalization for every people that is not master of its own destiny.
HANNAH ARENDT
The Origins of Totalitarianism
In today's highly complex society it takes years of training in rationalization, accommodation, and compromise to qualify for the good jobs with the really big payoffs.
RUSSELL BAKER
New York Times, March 21, 1968
Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one's emotions.
AYN RAND
Philosophy: Who Needs It?
The chaplain had sinned, and it was good. Common sense told him that telling lies and defecting from duty were sins. On the other hand, everyone knew that sin was evil and that no good could come from evil. But he did feel good; he felt positively marvelous. Consequently, it followed logically that telling lies and defecting from duty could not be sins. The chaplain had mastered, in a moment of divine intuition, the handy technique of protective rationalization, and he was exhilarated by his discovery. It was miraculous.
JOSEPH HELLER
Catch-22
In our reveries we are frequently engaged in self-justification, for we cannot bear to think ourselves wrong, and yet have constant illustrations of our weaknesses and mistakes. So we spend much time finding fault with circumstances and the conduct of others, and shifting on to them with great ingenuity the onus of our own failures and disappointments.
JAMES HARVEY ROBINSON
The Mind in the Making
Rationalizing is what our brain does to make the unacceptable acceptable. If a person you love causes you harm, your brain is quick to smooth over anything that will interfere with the idealistic vision you have of your relationship. I engaged in a lot of rationalizing. My ex-wife had this horrible habit of sending me mixed messages. One moment she said she loved me forever, the next moment she is kicking me out of our home. This Jekyll and Hyde behavior would reek havoc with my brain. To stop the chaos, I would simply blame myself. Since she is absolutely wonderful, it must be something I am doing that is hurting her. I am to blame. I am to blame. I am to blame.
MIKE SELBY
Self-Worth Now
Rationalizing is faulty, defensive thinking, motivated by the desire to retain self-respect. It serves this purpose, at least temporarily, by enabling us to avoid facing issues and to excuse our failures.
NORMAN LESLIE MUNN
Psychology: The Fundamentals of Human Adjustment