"One who hates is a man holding a magnifying-glass, and when he hates someone, he knows precisely that person's surface, from the soles of his feet all the way up to each hair on the hated head"
- Hermann Broch
About this Quote
This quote speaks to the power of hatred and how it can distort our perception of someone. When we hate someone, we focus on their flaws and imperfections, magnifying them to the point where we can no longer see the person as a whole. We end up being so fixated on the surface area information that we forget to take a look at the person's inner qualities. This quote suggests that hatred can be blinding, avoiding us from seeing the person for who they genuinely are. It also suggests that hatred can be a type of self-protection, as it permits us to distance ourselves from the individual we dislike and avoid getting too close. Eventually, this quote functions as a reminder to be conscious of our own biases and to aim to look beyond the surface when it comes to understanding others.
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