https://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/06/11/iran-vs-the-desire-to-be-liked/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 09:15:28 -0400<![CDATA[The promiscuous desire to be liked is a personal character flaw because it often conflicts with acting according the principles one espouses. This homely moral fact is binding on the great as well as the humble, and its pertinence even extends the behavior of nations. The poet Schiller once advised his fellows to render to their contemporaries &#8220;what they need, not what they praise.&#8221; This is a prescription not for immediate popularity but for lasting respect.]]>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:26:24 -0400<![CDATA[Roger Kimball]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-kimball/2008/06/11/iran-vs-the-desire-to-be-liked-n114891