The man who has sufficient power over himself to wait until his nature has recovered its even balance is the truly wise man, but such beings are seldom met with.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. It is a virtue. To be sure, it has a likeness to roguery, but that cannot be helped. He who has not learned to practice it is a fool.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while cheating is morally wrong, being clever and shrewd in a honest way is a valuable skill.
Giacomo Casanova's quote presents a nuanced view of morality where he distinguishes between outright cheating and the clever, sometimes morally ambiguous behavior that can be seen as prudence. He acknowledges that while such cunningness may resemble roguery, it is a necessary skill that one must learn in order to navigate life effectively. Casanova implies that understanding the balance between honesty and cleverness is essential for success, and that those who dismiss it are misguided.
Themes
CheatingPrudenceWisdomCunningMorality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about ethical decision-making in business.
More from Giacomo Casanova
All quotes βI have met with some of them - very honest fellows, who, with all their stupidity, had a kind of intelligence and an upright good sense, which cannot be the characteristics of fools.
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From that moment our love became sad, and sadness is a disease which gives the death-blow to affection.
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The mind of a human being is formed only of comparisons made in order to examine analogies, and therefore cannot precede the existence of memory.
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For my future I have no concern, and as a true philosopher, I never would have any, for I know not what it may be: as a Christian, on the other hand, faith must believe without discussion, and the stronger it is, the more it keeps silent.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
I have had friends who have acted kindly towards me, and it has been my good fortune to have it in my power to give them substantial proofs of my gratitude.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
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