We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against Nature.

— Plutarch

REFLECTION

WHAT THIS MEANS

People react far more strongly to a broken convention than to a real harm. The wrong clothes, the wrong form of address or the wrong order of events will produce more outrage than something quietly damaging that happens to be customary. Familiarity is doing the moral work that judgement should be doing.

When something offends you, check whether it is actually harmful or merely unusual. Keep your objection for the first kind. And when you find real damage being done in a perfectly conventional way, say so, even though it will be less popular than complaining about manners.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Which habit of others offends you for being unfamiliar only?

MORE IN PERCEPTION & ATTENTION

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