Virtue Quote by Cormac McCarthy
““He said that the notion that evil is seldom rewarded was greatly overspoken for if there were no advantage to it then men would shun it and how could virtue then be attached to its repudiation?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, 1985
The quote questions the belief that evil rarely gets rewarded, suggesting that if evil offered no benefit, people would avoid it, making virtue meaningless when it opposes evil.
In simple terms: If evil gave no benefit, people would avoid it, making virtue meaningless.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that incentives shape moral choices.
Themes
morality
incentives
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- law enforcement
- business ethics
- personal decision making
- public policy
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
reward systems
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What incentives drive your ethical decisions?
- Can virtue exist without external reward?
A Different Perspective
The claim assumes all actions are driven by self‑interest, ignoring altruism.
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
