Ressentiment is a self-poisoning of the mind which has quite definite causes and consequences. It is a lasting … - Max Scheler

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The vacuum created by a failure to communicate will quickly be filled with rumor, misrepresentations, drivel, and poison.

Max Scheler

Ressentiment is a self-poisoning of the mind which has quite definite causes and consequences. It is a lasting mental attitude, caused by the systematic repression of certain emotions and affects which, as such are normal components of human nature. Their repression leads to the constant tendency to indulge in certain kinds of value delusions and corresponding value judgments. The emotions and affects primarily concerned are revenge, hatred, malice, envy, the impulse to detract, and spite.

Attitude, Emotions, Indulge In, Mental, Repression, Revenge

Same Author Quotes

The purpose of art is. . . to press forward into the whole of the external world and the soul, to see and communicate those objective realities within it which rule and convention have hitherto concealed.

Art, Press, Realities, Reality, Soul, Whole

All the seemingly positive valuations and judgments of ressentiment are hidden devaluations and negations.

Devaluations, Hidden, Judgment, Negation, Valuation, Valuations

It is peculiar to “ressentiment criticism” that it does not seriously desire that its demands be fulfilled. It does not want to cure the evil. The evil is merely the pretext for the criticism.

Evil, Criticism, Desire, Demands, Peculiar

If the awareness of our limitations begins to limit or to dim our value consciousness as well—as happens, for instance, in old age with regard to the values of youth—then we have already started the movement of devaluation which will end with the defamation of the world and all its values. Only a timely act of resignation can deliver us from this tendency toward self-delusion.

Act, Age, Limits, Self, Value, World

Whenever convictions are not arrived at by direct contact with the world and the objects themselves, but indirectly through a critique of the opinions of others, the processes of thinking are impregnated with ressentiment. The establishment of "criteria" for testing the correctness of opinions then becomes the most important task. Genuine and fruitful criticism judges all opinions with reference to the object itself. Ressentiment criticism, on the contrary, accepts no "object" that has not stood the test of criticism

Contrary, Criticism, Judging, Opinions, Task, Thinking