it is the modern nature of goodness to exert itself…
“it is the modern nature of goodness to exert itself quietly, while a few characters of the opposite cast seem, by the rumor of their exploits, to fill the world; and by their noise to multiply their numbers.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Goodness works silently while the loud and immoral attract attention and grow in number.
In simple terms: Goodness is quiet; badness is noisy and spreads.
Value quiet virtue over noisy vice.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal conduct
- public policy
- media narratives
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies reward silent goodness?
- What mechanisms let noisy badness thrive?
Quiet virtue can be overlooked, allowing harmful noise to dominate.