--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate…" description: "\"It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable virtue, cannot exempt a man from infamy and p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg" --- # It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which… ![“It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable virtue, cannot exempt a man from infamy and persecution.” quote by Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg) > “It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable virtue, cannot exempt a man from infamy and persecution.” [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even the most virtuous people can be unjustly condemned in a corrupt society. **In simple terms:** Virtue does not guarantee safety from accusation. Key Takeaway Recognize injustice and act with compassion. Themes justice virtue persecution societal corruption Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - legal defense - human rights advocacy - historical analysis - literary critique Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical dilemmas Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect the innocent? - What responsibilities do witnesses have? A Different Perspective Virtue alone cannot shield one from false accusations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Incontestable Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incontestable-virtue-6137169/) [Infamy Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamy-persecution-6137170/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unfortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate/) [Unfortunate Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate-times-6137171/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [The spirit of religious persecution is not the special failing of any particular faith, but springs eternal in the human breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-fortune/the-spirit-of-religious-persecution-is-not-the-special-failing-of-any/) [Dion Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-fortune/) > [Cruelty was the devil, and most people were, in one way or another, cruel. Tyranny, suppression, persecution, torture, slavery, war, neglect - all were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/cruelty-was-the-devil-and-most-people-were-in-one-way-or-another/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [“In short, when it comes to colonial America, religious persecution—in the sense of persecution both based in religion and aimed at religion—was as American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/in-short-when-it-comes-to-colonial-america-religious-persecution-in/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Jesus came to give his righteousness not to condemn the unrighteous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-canoza/jesus-came-to-give-his-righteousness-not-to-condemn-the-unrighteous/) [Mac Canoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-canoza/) > [Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/knowledge-of-god-s-word-is-a-bulwark-against-deception-temptation/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [Persecution matures young rebels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-suyin/persecution-matures-young-rebels/) [Han Suyin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-suyin/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a safe, private place to take your controversial stand for Jesus. No more. If you are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-safe-private-place-to-take-your/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More by Alexander Dumas > [“Can we account for instinct?' said Monte Cristo. 'Are there not some places where we seem to breathe sadness? — why, we cannot tell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/can-we-account-for-instinct-said-monte-cristo-are-there-not-some/) [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) > [“Mankind will not be perfect until it can create and destroy like God. It can already destroy: that's half the battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/mankind-will-not-be-perfect-until-it-can-create-and-destroy-like-god/) [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) > [“The paths of which you were just speaking have been traced by all young men of ardent imaginations. Besides the pleasure there is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/the-paths-of-which-you-were-just-speaking-have-been-traced-by-all/) [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) > [“No, certainly not. 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We can die but once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/since-we-are-sinking-let-us-sink-we-can-die-but-once/) [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) [Explore all 19 Alexander Dumas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable virtue, cannot exempt a man from infamy and persecution.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Dumas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunate-times-in-which-we-live-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunate-times-in-which-we-live-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/alexander-dumas-28653_life_it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunat_3235432.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a sad thing that in the unfortunate times in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable…” — Alexander Dumas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Dumas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a sad thing that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunate-times-in-which-we-live-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/it-is-a-sad-thing-that-in-the-unfortunate-times-in-which-we-live-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```