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The penalty may be removed, the crime is eternal.
Ovid
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The consequences of our actions may fade, but the nature of those actions remains.

Ovid's quote suggests that while the legal or societal repercussions of our actions might eventually be lifted or forgotten, the moral implications and the essence of the actions themselves persist over time. This reflects on the idea that certain wrongdoings carry a weight and significance that outlast any temporal punishment, emphasizing the importance of integrity and conscience.

Themes

CrimePenaltyEternalConsequencesMorality

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about accountability in ethics courses.

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We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
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All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
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A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
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Fas est ab hoste doceri._x000D_ One should learn even from one's enemies.
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Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
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The end doesn't justify the means.
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