
“The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of cause.”
Source: The Legacy of Heorot (1987), Chapter 22 “The Last Grendel” (p. 231; quoting William James)
Entre le bon sens et le bon goût il y a la différence de la cause à son effet.
Aphorism 56
Les Caractères (1688), Des jugements
Entre le bon sens et le bon goût il y a la différence de la cause à son effet.
Les Caractères (1688), Des jugements
“The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of cause.”
Source: The Legacy of Heorot (1987), Chapter 22 “The Last Grendel” (p. 231; quoting William James)
Letter to E.L. Godkin (24 December 1895)
1890s
A Philosopher: On Wonder And Beauty
Jesus, The Son of Man (1928)
Context: In truth we gaze but do not see, and hearken but do not hear; we eat and drink but do not taste. And there lies the difference between Jesus of Nazareth and ourselves.
His senses were all continually made new, and the world to Him was always a new world.
That which is seen and that which is not seen (Ce qu'on voit et ce qu'on ne voit pas, 1850), the Introduction.
Context: In the department of economy, an act, a habit, an institution, a law, gives birth not only to an effect, but to a series of effects. Of these effects, the first only is immediate; it manifests itself simultaneously with its cause — it is seen. The others unfold in succession — they are not seen: it is well for us, if they are foreseen. Between a good and a bad economist this constitutes the whole difference: the one takes account only of the visible effect; the other takes account of both the effects which are seen and those which it is necessary to foresee. Now this difference is enormous, for it almost always happens that when the immediate consequence is favourable, the ultimate consequences are fatal, and the converse. Hence it follows that the bad economist pursues a small present good, which will be followed by a great evil to come, while the true economist pursues a great good to come, at the risk of a small present evil.
“There's a huge difference between a good idea and a God-inspired idea.”
It – How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It (2008, Zondervan)
“The difference between me and you is that I do good fiction.”
Jokingly to news reporters. Speech at the National Press Club (18 May 1999).
1990s