The devil comes in many guises-anger in the form of…
“The devil comes in many guises-anger in the form of justice-passion in the form of duty. When it first comes, the man knows and then he forgets. Just as your pleaders' conscience; at first they know it is all Badmashi (roguery), then it is duty to their clients; at last they get hardened.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Moral corruption can masquerade as noble motives, leading people to rationalize wrongdoing until they become desensitized.
In simple terms: Bad motives hide as good; people forget the harm.
Key Takeaway
Beware of justifications that mask harmful intent.
Themes
ethics
self‑deception
justice
duty
anger
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- legal practice
- political leadership
- personal decision‑making
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
moral psychology
cognitive bias
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you justified a questionable act as duty?
- How can you distinguish genuine justice from self‑interest?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all rationalizations are equally harmful, ignoring contexts where duty conflicts with personal ethics.