History consists, for the greater part, of the miseries…
““History consists, for the greater part, of the miseries brought upon the world by pride, ambition, avarice, revenge, lust, sedition, hypocrisy, ungoverned zeal, and all the train of disorderly appetites, which shake the public with the same —“troublous storms that toss The private state, and render life unsweet.” These vices are the causes of those storms. Religion, morals, laws, prerogatives, privileges, liberties, rights of men, are the pretexts.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Society suffers when personal vices like pride and greed dominate, using moral institutions as excuses for disorder.
In simple terms: Vices cause chaos; institutions become pretexts.
Key Takeaway
Guard against personal vices.
Themes
politics
morality
society
human nature
ethics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- public policy formation
- personal ethical reflection
- community conflict resolution
Key Concepts
pride
ambition
avarice
revenge
lust
hypocrisy
zeal
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal vices influence public policy?
- Can institutions be reformed without addressing underlying vices?
A Different Perspective
Vices are not the only cause; structural inequalities also play a role.