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... Virtue owns a more eternal foe Than Force or Fraud…

“... Virtue owns a more eternal foe Than Force or Fraud: old Custom, legal Crime, And bloody Faith the foulest birth of Time.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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“... Virtue owns a more eternal foe Than Force or Fraud: old Custom, legal Crime, And bloody Faith the foulest birth of Time.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley

About This Quote

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

Virtue is challenged by enduring forces like custom, law, and faith that shape history.

In simple terms: Virtue fights lasting societal forces.

Key Takeaway

Stand against entrenched injustice.

Themes

morality power history faith

Mood

somber determined

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • activism
  • law reform
  • historical analysis
  • education

Key Concepts

philosophy political theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • Which institutions suppress virtue?
  • How can individuals confront systemic injustice?
A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑rooted customs is slow and resistant.

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