---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're trying to be tricky. What's…"
description: "\"You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?\" \"It's the difference between what's right and what you can rationalize.\" \"Must be a human thing.\" \"Exactl..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png"
---

#  You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?" "It's the…

![“You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?&quot; &quot;It's the difference between what's right and what you can rationalize.&quot; &quot;Must be a human thing.&quot; &quot;Exactly.” quote by Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png)

> “You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?" "It's the difference between what's right and what you can rationalize." "Must be a human thing." "Exactly.”

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Morality is the line between what is right and what we can justify; it is inherently human.

**In simple terms:** Morality balances right and rationalization.

Key Takeaway

Question your justifications.

Themes

ethics human nature philosophy

Mood

thoughtful provocative

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- ethical debates
- personal decision making
- leadership training

Key Concepts

moral relativism cognitive bias human behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- What do you rationalize as right?
- How can you test moral choices?

A Different Perspective

People often rationalize harmful actions, blurring moral lines.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/)

## Related quotes

> [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Government is full of people who think they know what's best for others and can rationalize compelling them to accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/government-is-full-of-people-who-think-they-know-what-s-best-for/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Amazing what we can self-rationalize when we really want something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/amazing-what-we-can-self-rationalize-when-we-really-want-something/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [Our primeval Mother Earth is an organism that no science in the world can rationalize. Everything on her that crawls and flies is dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-schauberger/our-primeval-mother-earth-is-an-organism-that-no-science-in-the-world/)

[Viktor Schauberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-schauberger/)

> [“...you’d be amazed at the grand tales the human brain will throw up to make sense of something nonsensical.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/you-d-be-amazed-at-the-grand-tales-the-human-brain-will-throw-up-to/)

[Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/)

> [People sometimes rationalize their greed by saying that it is all for the good of their children but this is nothing but an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/people-sometimes-rationalize-their-greed-by-saying-that-it-is-all-for/)

[Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/)

> [Human beings, when they encounter that which can't be understood, either run away from it, run towards it blindly, or just rationalize it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/human-beings-when-they-encounter-that-which-can-t-be-understood/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [The Second World War is and was constantly being drudged up by Blair and Bush to rationalize the invasion of Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/the-second-world-war-is-and-was-constantly-being-drudged-up-by-blair/)

[Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/)

> [“Of course, I rationalize the fear. I realize it’s not real, that my house isn’t burning down, that the deer aren’t going to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-celebi/of-course-i-rationalize-the-fear-i-realize-it-s-not-real-that-my/)

[Shannon Celebi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-celebi/)

> [The mind's ability to rationalize it's own shortcomings is unlimited; I am no exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-mind-s-ability-to-rationalize-it-s-own-shortcomings-is-unlimited/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [I rationalize out, well, how much help could you really be, you know? And maybe if people saw this, they'd realize the brutality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/i-rationalize-out-well-how-much-help-could-you-really-be-you-know-and/)

[Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/)

> [Man has an infinite capacity to rationalize - especially when it comes to what he wants to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/man-has-an-infinite-capacity-to-rationalize-especially-when-it-comes/)

[Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/)

> [When you're tired, you rationalize. You make excuses in your mind. You say, "I'm too tired; I'm bushed; I can't do this; I'll loaf."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/when-you-re-tired-you-rationalize-you-make-excuses-in-your-mind-you/)

[Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/)

> [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I am a product of a rat and roach infested black ghetto. It is easy for me to rationalize my dealings as a numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/i-am-a-product-of-a-rat-and-roach-infested-black-ghetto-it-is-easy/)

[Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/)

## More by Christopher Moore

> [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“I tried cutting myself to express my heartbreak over Tommy (Lord Flood) rejecting me, but OMFG it hurts like flaming fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-tried-cutting-myself-to-express-my-heartbreak-over-tommy-lord-flood/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [Canada is a myth people made up to entertain children, like the Tooth Fairy. There’s no such place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/canada-is-a-myth-people-made-up-to-entertain-children-like-the-tooth/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [Sarcasm will make your tits fall off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/sarcasm-will-make-your-tits-fall-off/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“I hope you are not here to ask me to do my bawdy business- the monkey has a nosebleed and the circus, sir, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-hope-you-are-not-here-to-ask-me-to-do-my-bawdy-business-the-monkey/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [The prospect of change is a many-fanged beast, my dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/the-prospect-of-change-is-a-many-fanged-beast-my-dear/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“The night was crisp and the stars shone with a cold blue light like loneliness or infinity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/the-night-was-crisp-and-the-stars-shone-with-a-cold-blue-light-like/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [Children see magic because they look for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/children-see-magic-because-they-look-for-it/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“Abby Von Normal - And I'm like, "Don't change the subject, Kung Pao, what I want to know is if you're ready to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/abby-von-normal-and-i-m-like-don-t-change-the-subject-kung-pao-what-i/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“You can't just go around blurting out the truth like a prophet with Tourette's syndrome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-can-t-just-go-around-blurting-out-the-truth-like-a-prophet-with/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [How could you deal with a creature as devious as woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/how-could-you-deal-with-a-creature-as-devious-as-woman/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“…turning your ankle hurts like hell, even if you're a superhero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/turning-your-ankle-hurts-like-hell-even-if-you-re-a-superhero/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [Lonliness evaporated off of them like the steam off dry ice, and by morning it was just a cloud on the ceiling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/lonliness-evaporated-off-of-them-like-the-steam-off-dry-ice-and-by/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“Give us a call or you know, flash a searchlight in the sky with your logo on it, because we monitor everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/give-us-a-call-or-you-know-flash-a-searchlight-in-the-sky-with-your/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“it wasn't so much like the hands of time had stood still here, more like they'd been thrown in the air in exasperation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/it-wasn-t-so-much-like-the-hands-of-time-had-stood-still-here-more/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

[Explore all 591 Christopher Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?\" \"It's the difference between what's right and what you can rationalize.\" \"Must be a human thing.\" \"Exactly.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Moore"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morality-it-s-the-difference/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morality-it-s-the-difference/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/christopher-moore-353_character_you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morali_1115477.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?\" \"It's the difference between what's right and what you can…” — Christopher Moore",
                "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": "Christopher Moore",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You're trying to be tricky. What's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morality-it-s-the-difference/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-re-trying-to-be-tricky-what-s-morality-it-s-the-difference/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
