I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness…
““I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness, a sin to which I believe no one here is addicted. Let us not, however, plume ourselves in not being guilty of a vice to which, as we have no natural bias so in not committing it, we resist no temptation. What I meant to insist on was, that exchanging a turbulent for a quiet sin, or a scandalous for an orderly one, is not reformation.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Argues that swapping one sin for another does not constitute moral improvement; true reform requires deeper change.
In simple terms: Changing sins isn’t true reform.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine moral growth.
Themes
ethics
reform
vice
morality
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal counseling
- spiritual guidance
- ethical education
- community standards
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
self‑improvement
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines authentic moral progress?
- How to avoid swapping one vice for another?
A Different Perspective
People may rationalize new vices as better.