What does the truth matter? Haven't we mothers all given our sons a taste for lies, lies which from the cradle upwards lull them, reassure them, send them to sleep: lies as soft and warm as a breast!
Georges BernanosRead
The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights that when a society believes that any action is acceptable if it leads to a desired result, it shows moral decay.
Georges Bernanos' quote suggests that a society that prioritizes outcomes over ethical methods is experiencing a form of corruption. This principle, often seen in political and social contexts, indicates a loss of moral compass where individuals justify unethical actions if they can achieve a favorable result, ultimately leading to societal decay.
Themes
CorruptionSocietyEthicsMeansEndsMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about political ethics, this quote can illustrate the dangers of pragmatism.
More from Georges Bernanos
All quotes βFear, true fear, is a savage frenzy. Of all the insanities of which we are capable, it is surely the cruelest. There is naught to equal its drive, and naught can survive its thrust.
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I know the compassion of others is a relief at first. I don't despise it. But it can't quench pain, it slips through your soul as through a sieve. And when our suffering has been dragged from one pity to another, as from one mouth to another, we can no longer respect or love it.
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It's a fine thing to rise above pride, but you must have pride in order to do so.
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Hell, madame, is to love no longer.
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God! how is it that we fail to recognize that the mask of pleasure, stripped of all hypocrisy, is that of anguish?
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