--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an act of virtue to deceive and…" description: "\"It is an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by such means the interest of the church might be promoted.\" — Eusebius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/eusebius-24376_church_it-is-an-act-of-virtue-to-deceive-and-li_3198701.jpg" --- # It is an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by such… ![“It is an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by such means the interest of the church might be promoted.” quote by Eusebius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/eusebius-24376_church_it-is-an-act-of-virtue-to-deceive-and-li_3198701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/eusebius-24376_church_it-is-an-act-of-virtue-to-deceive-and-li_3198701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/eusebius-24376_church_it-is-an-act-of-virtue-to-deceive-and-li_3198701.jpg) > “It is an act of virtue to deceive and lie, when by such means the interest of the church might be promoted.” [Eusebius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deception can be justified when it serves a higher institutional goal, though it raises moral conflict. **In simple terms:** Lying may be seen as virtuous if it protects the church. Key Takeaway Weigh institutional benefit against personal integrity. Themes ethics institutional loyalty political pragmatism Mood conflicted reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - church leadership - political negotiations - public relations - crisis management Key Concepts Moral relativism utilitarianism Questions to Reflect On - Is the end always justified by the means? - How does this affect the church’s moral authority? A Different Perspective Such rationalizations can erode trust and set dangerous precedents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [to. I will trick you and deceive you, lie, cheat and steal to find you, tempt you out of your hiding place, and chase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/to-i-will-trick-you-and-deceive-you-lie-cheat-and-steal-to-find-you/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“Deceiving people was natural... 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Three, a lie to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-types-of-lies-one-a-lie-to-protect-yourself-two-a-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let us destroy, but don't let us pretend that we are commiting an act of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/let-us-destroy-but-don-t-let-us-pretend-that-we-are-commiting-an-act/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“The Stoic makes no differentiation between a small act of kindness by a simple person and a great act of virtue from a learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-stoic-makes-no-differentiation-between-a-small-act-of-kindness-by/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [To be silent when we are impelled to utter words injurious to God or to our neighbour, is an act of virtue; but, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/to-be-silent-when-we-are-impelled-to-utter-words-injurious-to-god-or/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Every act of virtue is an ingredient unto reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/every-act-of-virtue-is-an-ingredient-unto-reward/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. 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She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [We deceive ourselves when giving respect to the person for whom we have surrendered ourselves, when we respectively expect them to be as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-deceive-ourselves-when-giving-respect-to-the-person-for-whom-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Eusebius > [“May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other. 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