Accomplish Quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“We often do shallow good in order to accomplish evil with impunity.”
About This Quote
Source Maxim: Moral Reflections, 1665
People sometimes perform superficial good acts to hide or enable deeper wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Good deeds can mask evil intentions.
Key Takeaway
Beware of hidden motives behind charitable acts.
Themes
ethics
hypocrisy
intent
morality
power
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- Corporate philanthropy
- political lobbying
- charitable fundraising
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
psychology of deception
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs indicate a good deed is a cover for ulterior motives?
- How can we discern genuine altruism?
A Different Perspective
Not all altruistic actions are sincere; context matters.
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
