---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nor is it a short experience that can…"
description: "\"“Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us [...], because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate; that which in the first in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/edmund-burke-400_character_nor-is-it-a-short-experience-that-can-in_1461317.jpg"
---

#  Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us \[...\]…

![“Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us &#91;...&#93;, because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate; that which in the first instance is prejudicial may be excellent in its remoter operation, and its excellence may arise even from the ill effects it produces in the beginning.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/edmund-burke-400_character_nor-is-it-a-short-experience-that-can-in_1461317.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/edmund-burke-400_character_nor-is-it-a-short-experience-that-can-in_1461317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/edmund-burke-400_character_nor-is-it-a-short-experience-that-can-in_1461317.jpg)

> ““Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us \[...\], because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate; that which in the first instance is prejudicial may be excellent in its remoter operation, and its excellence may arise even from the ill effects it produces in the beginning.””

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

## About This Quote

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

Moral actions often have delayed outcomes; early harms can later produce great good, and immediate benefits may hide later damage.

**In simple terms:** Good can arise from early harm; bad can hide later.

Key Takeaway

Consider long‑term effects, not just immediate results.

Themes

ethics cause and effect patience

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

philosophical advisory

When to use this quote

- policy making
- personal decisions
- social reform
- education
- leadership

Key Concepts

philosophy moral causality delayed consequences

Questions to Reflect On

- What long‑term outcomes am I overlooking?
- How can I balance short‑term pain with future benefit?

A Different Perspective

Immediate results can be misleading; patience is needed to assess true impact.

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[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Effects Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects-moral-1401266/) [Instance Prejudicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance-prejudicial-5279701/) [Moral Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-causes-1401267/) [Prejudicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudicial-1654431/) [Prejudicial Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudicial-excellent-4307099/)

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