A08 · Guilt and Regret
Guilt and self-blame
Self-condemnation over mistakes, moral failings or harm caused.
Cues
Showing 5 of 5 cues
“Why fear my mistakes when I can say, ‘Do not do that again; for now, I forgive you’?”
“Be not disgusted, nor discouraged, nor dissatisfied, if thou dost not succeed in doing everything according to right principles; but when thou hast failed, return back again.”
Holding agency and moral luck in tension
Even if we retreat from outcomes to judge only inner character and intention, constitutive luck is already at work there; yet if we excuse everything due to luck, human agency vanishes, so we must hold personal responsibility and compassion for luck together.
“A man's shortcomings are taken from his epoch; his virtues and greatness belong to himself.”
“To be ashamed only of what was really shameful, and to ignore men’s low opinion of other things.”