We all have strength enough to bear the misfortunes of other people.
From the Maximes of 1665, whose method is to find self-interest at the root of conduct that presents itself as virtue. This one names the asymmetry of fortitude: advice to be stoical is almost always offered across the gap between the adviser and the person bearing the thing. It is the same observation Mel Brooks later made about the difference between tragedy and comedy.
In practice
- A manager counselling resilience about a restructure is not in the affected department.
- A commentator recommending that an industry accept disruption has costed the disruption for other people.