Consent Quote by Ann Radcliffe
““If deceit is at any time excusable,” replied Olivia, reluctantly, “it is when we practise it in self-defence. There are some rare situations, when it may be resorted to without our incurring ignominy, and yours is one of those. But I will acknowledge, that all the good I expect is from the delay which temporizing may procure you. The Superior, when she understands there is a probability of obtaining your consent to her wishes, may be willing to allow you the usual time of preparation for the veil, and meanwhile something may occur to rescue you from your present situation.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe, 1794
Deceit may be justified in self‑defence, but only in rare, necessary circumstances to protect oneself.
In simple terms: Lying can be okay when defending yourself, rarely.
Key Takeaway
Assess necessity before using deception.
Themes
ethics
self‑defence
deception
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal safety
- legal defense
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
moral dilemmas
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- When is deception truly unavoidable?
- How does self‑defence justify lying?
A Different Perspective
Deception can damage trust long‑term.
![“[she used to say that] each of us has a veil between ourselves and the rest of the world – like a bride wears on her wedding day—except this kind of veil is invisible. we walk around happily with these invisible veils hanging down over our faces. the world is kind of blurry. we like it that way…” quote by Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6c9/rebecca-stead-11010_marriage_she-used-to-say-that-each-of-us-has-a-ve_1078243.jpg)
