Cavenaugh rubbed his hands together and smiled his sunny…
““Cavenaugh rubbed his hands together and smiled his sunny smile. 'I like that idea. It's reassuring. If we can have no secrets, it means we can't, after all, go so far afield as we might,' he hesitated, 'yes, as we might.' Eastman looked at him sourly. 'Cavenaugh, when you've practiced law in New York for twelve years, you find that people can't go far in any direction, except-' He thrust his forefinger sharply at the floor.'Even in that direction, few people can do anything out of the ordinary. Our range is limited. Skip a few baths, and we become personally objectionable. The slightest carelessness can rot a man's integrity or give him ptomaine poisoning. We keep up only be incessant cleansing operations, of mind and body. What we call character, is held together by all sorts of tacks and strings and glue. ("Consequences")””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage suggests that personal integrity is fragile, maintained by constant self‑scrutiny, and that ambition is limited by ethical constraints.
In simple terms: Integrity needs constant care; ambition is bounded by ethics.
Key Takeaway
Maintain vigilance over actions and motives.
Themes
integrity
ambition
ethics
self‑discipline
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
literary
dialogue
When to use this quote
- legal practice
- personal relationships
- career decisions
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
fragility of character
constant cleansing
social constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance ambition with ethical limits?
- What habits protect your integrity?
A Different Perspective
Even with vigilance, external pressures can still corrupt character.