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Bad as he is, the Devil may be abus’d, Be falsly charg’d…

“Bad as he is, the Devil may be abus’d, Be falsly charg’d, and causelesly accus’d, When Men, unwilling to be blam’d alone, Shift off these Crimes on Him which are their Own.” quote by Daniel Defoe
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““Bad as he is, the Devil may be abus’d, Be falsly charg’d, and causelesly accus’d, When Men, unwilling to be blam’d alone, Shift off these Crimes on Him which are their Own.””

Daniel Defoe

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He warns that people shift blame onto the devil for their own crimes, highlighting human tendency to avoid responsibility.

In simple terms: People blame the devil for their sins.

Key Takeaway

Take responsibility for one's actions.

Themes

morality blame responsibility human nature

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • legal system
  • personal ethics
  • social discourse

Key Concepts

guilt accountability psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What crimes do we attribute to external forces?
  • How can we foster personal accountability?
A Different Perspective

Denial can hinder personal growth.

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