He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong, so as it be explicit. If it is right, it will serve as a guide to direct; if wrong, as a beacon to warn.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Without publicity, no good is permanent; under the auspices of publicity, no evil can continue.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Publicity plays a crucial role in maintaining good and preventing evil actions from lasting.
Jeremy Bentham highlights the significance of publicity in society, suggesting that good deeds are often temporary if not recognized and publicized, whereas evil actions cannot persist under the scrutiny of public awareness. This underscores the power of transparency and accountability in shaping moral and ethical standards.
Themes
PublicityGoodEvilTransparencyAccountability
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about corporate ethics, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of transparency in business practices.
More from Jeremy Bentham
All quotes βCreate all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, --will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, --or to diminish something of their pains.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Nature has placed mankind under the government of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure... they govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
Jeremy BenthamRead
It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.
Jeremy BenthamRead
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