Acting by his best lights

Judg · Jan 15, 2009

Does that sound right to you? It popped into my head, but I'm suspicious of it. I mean that the character is doing what he sincerely thinks is best, although others don't necessarily see it the same way. My MC knows where he's coming from, but resents the intrusion into his life anyway.

maestrowork · Jan 15, 2009

I would probably use "light" instead of "lights." Otherwise, I don't see anything wrong with this.

TheIT · Jan 15, 2009

Hmm... "Acting by his best lights" puts me in mind of a stage or movie actor who positions himself such that the lighting is perfect, so someone who is trying to make himself look good because of where he stands.

Judg · Jan 15, 2009

I think there's an established expression along these lines, which is what I'm looking for, but if it isn't easily understandable, maybe I'd better just find another way to say it.

TheIT · Jan 15, 2009

Closest expression I can think of is "marching to the beat of a different drummer". Maybe "marching to the beat of his own drummer"?

Judg · Jan 15, 2009

That doesn't quite get it. The guy is doing what he sincerely thinks is best, but the MC begs to differ. Sort of like when you're mad at your father because he's messing up your life, but with the best of intentions.

But I think you've pretty much settled it for me. If it doesn't communicate the idea effectively, I'll try something else.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 15, 2009

I've never heard that expression before. Are you thinking something along the lines of "in the best light possible?" As in something presents you in the best light possible.

Don · Jan 15, 2009

I've heard it before as "Acting in his best light" and the interpretation pretty much matched TheITs definition. I'd think of that person as doing what was best for him, personally, and not necessarily the best for everyone concerned.

CaoPaux · Jan 15, 2009

Are you thinking of "acting in his best interest(s)"?

Judg · Jan 15, 2009

Well, Martin thinks he's acting in Blayn's best interests, and Blayn understands that, but seeing as Martin engineered a break-up between Blayn and his girlfriend, he's not too inclined to feel charitable about it.

I think the expression I was looking for was "according to his lights". According to Martin's lights, he was doing the best thing. Blayn is not disputing his good intentions, just the quality of the lights.

Thank you, all of you. Forcing me to explain myself was just what I needed.

blacbird · Jan 15, 2009

Still, it sounds kind of clicheish to me. I think it's just the word "lights" in general here that bothers me.

caw

pdr · Jan 15, 2009

As I understand it...

the expression is acting in his best lights - coming from acting where an actor wants to be seen in the best possible stage lights for his audience to appreciate his skills.

Hogging the spotlight is another such one!

blacbird · Jan 15, 2009

It seems to me to fall in that category with:

"putting his best foot forward"
"turning the other cheek"
"putting on a brave face"
"the shoe was on the other foot"
"the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing"

etc.

Clever the first time used, quickly become cliché, a lazy way of expressing an idea there must be a dozen more vivid ways of doing.

caw

FennelGiraffe · Jan 15, 2009

I have to support Judg here. "By his best lights" is an expression I've heard many times, and it means "using his best judgment" or "making the best decision he could with the information he had available at the time". It does not mean anything at all like "putting his best foot forward" or "acting in his own best interests without regard to others".

However, it's evident from the comments it isn't a widely-understood expression, so using it could lead to misinterpretation.

Judg · Jan 16, 2009

You summed it up pretty nicely, FG. In context, it might be better understood, but I think I'll just look for a better way of expressing it.

Nice to know that the expression that popped into my head actually exists, even if it isn't widely understood.

Acting by his best lights

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Don

All Living is Local

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

blacbird

pdr

blacbird

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon