No compact among men . . . can be pronounced everlasting…
“No compact among men . . . can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no Wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the one side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Ambition and corrupt morals clash, making any lasting agreement impossible.
In simple terms: Ambition and corruption prevent lasting promises.
Guard against unchecked ambition and moral decay.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government formation
- corporate deals
- personal contracts
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can any agreement survive unchecked ambition?
- What safeguards protect moral integrity?
Idealistic promises often fail under real‑world pressures.