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Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.
Edmund Burke
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Hypocrisy often makes grand promises it never intends to keep, and thus it has no real cost or commitment behind its words.

The quote by Edmund Burke highlights the nature of hypocrisy, emphasizing that those who are insincere can make lavish promises without any intention of fulfilling them. This allows hypocrites to appear generous and noble while, in reality, they are devoid of commitment and accountability, as their promises come at no real cost to them.

Themes

HypocrisyPromiseDeceptionCostInsincerity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about integrity in politics.

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To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
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Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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