Heretic Quote by Bernard Cornwell
““It would cause nothing but madness, Thomas thought. Men would fight for it, lie for it, cheat for it, betray for it and die for it. The Church would make money from it. It would cause nothing but evil, he thought, for it stirred horror from men's hearts,””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Saxon Stories” (also known as “The Last Kingdom”), 2004, historical fiction
Power and greed drive people to extreme actions, and institutions exploit them for profit and control.
In simple terms: Greed leads to conflict and exploitation.
Key Takeaway
Beware of the corrupting influence of power.
Themes
power
greed
corruption
religion
human nature
Mood
cautionary
thought‑provoking
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- corporate decisions
- personal ambitions
- religious reforms
Key Concepts
ethical decay
institutional exploitation
moral dilemmas
Questions to Reflect On
- When does ambition become destructive?
- How can societies guard against institutional greed?
A Different Perspective
Not all pursuit of power is inherently evil; context matters.
