“If we want people to behave in a certain manner, we must set the stage and give them a cue.  This is true also when it is ourselves we want to induce.  There is no telling how deeply a mind may be affected by the deliberate staging of gestures, acts and symbols.

~ Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind

Here are three quick lessons we can take from Hoffer’s quote:

People see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear, and pride themselves on their objectivity.

We should never hesitate to ask for help, as many will agree to provide it.  But we must never count on it to arrive, as few will actually do so.

Our highest moral values are those we feel we’re being judged on at any given moment.