--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did not intend making a philippic…" description: "\"“I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness, a sin to which I believe no one here is addicted. Let us not, however, plume ourselves in no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/hannah-more-2695_self-righteousness_i-did-not-intend-making-a-philippic-agai_871916.png" --- # I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness… ![“I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness, a sin to which I believe no one here is addicted. Let us not, however, plume ourselves in not being guilty of a vice to which, as we have no natural bias so in not committing it, we resist no temptation. What I meant to insist on was, that…” quote by Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/hannah-more-2695_self-righteousness_i-did-not-intend-making-a-philippic-agai_871916.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/hannah-more-2695_self-righteousness_i-did-not-intend-making-a-philippic-agai_871916.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/hannah-more-2695_self-righteousness_i-did-not-intend-making-a-philippic-agai_871916.png) > ““I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness, a sin to which I believe no one here is addicted. Let us not, however, plume ourselves in not being guilty of a vice to which, as we have no natural bias so in not committing it, we resist no temptation. What I meant to insist on was, that exchanging a turbulent for a quiet sin, or a scandalous for an orderly one, is not reformation.”” [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that swapping one sin for another does not constitute moral improvement; true reform requires deeper change. **In simple terms:** Changing sins isn’t true reform. Key Takeaway Seek genuine moral growth. Themes ethics reform vice morality Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal counseling - spiritual guidance - ethical education - community standards Key Concepts virtue ethics self‑improvement moral psychology Questions to Reflect On - What defines authentic moral progress? - How to avoid swapping one vice for another? A Different Perspective People may rationalize new vices as better. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Covetousness Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covetousness-sin-961205/) [Philippic Covetousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philippic-covetousness-961207/) [Resist Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resist-temptation/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Scandalous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-scandalous-961208/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Temptation Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-meant-961206/) [Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice/) ## Related quotes > [ It \[covetousness\] is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/it-covetousness-is-a-sin-against-god-just-as-all-mortal-sins-in-as/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“And for the first time he understood. What temptation meant. It stood before him, made flesh and wit and intellect and desire, making its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-gates/and-for-the-first-time-he-understood-what-temptation-meant-it-stood/) [Olivia Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-gates/) > [God tested Abraham. Temptation is not meant to make us fail; it is meant to confront us with a situation out of which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/god-tested-abraham-temptation-is-not-meant-to-make-us-fail-it-is/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [The experiments show quite clearly that, as you resist more and more temptation, you're actually more and more likely to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-experiments-show-quite-clearly-that-as-you-resist-more-and-more/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/by-and-large-the-united-states-has-been-able-to-resist-the-temptation/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [“I can resist anything except temptation." Ren, main character in Sherrilyn Kenyon's novel Time Untime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-can-resist-anything-except-temptation-ren-main-character-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [But often, it's easier to resist temptation with distraction, or to be so inculcated in doing the right thing that it's automatic, outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-often-it-s-easier-to-resist-temptation-with-distraction-or-to-be/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [I never resist temptation, because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-never-resist-temptation-because-i-have-found-that-things-that-are/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Don't tempt me, I can resist anything but temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/don-t-tempt-me-i-can-resist-anything-but-temptation/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Resist the temptation to think what afflicts you is peculiar to you. Have faith that what is in your consciousness can be communicated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/resist-the-temptation-to-think-what-afflicts-you-is-peculiar-to-you/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [We should resist the temptation to identify our religious convictions with the platform of a party or the platitudes of favored politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-e-reed-jr/we-should-resist-the-temptation-to-identify-our-religious-convictions/) [Ralph E. Reed, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-e-reed-jr/) > [Resist the temptation to ascribe motive, because you really don't know - and it gets in the way of being able to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/resist-the-temptation-to-ascribe-motive-because-you-really-don-t-know/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“One thing I’ve learned is it’s better sometimes, in the weeds, to resist the temptation to stand up and follow the compass. \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-it-s-better-sometimes-in-the-weeds-to/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-napolitano/we-must-resist-the-temptation-of-once-again-turning-america-into-the/) [Giorgio Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-napolitano/) > [Wish there was something that I could say or do, I can resist anything but the temptation from you. But I'd rather walk alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/wish-there-was-something-that-i-could-say-or-do-i-can-resist-anything/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) ## More by Hannah More > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/wisdom-views-with-an-indifferent-eye-all-finite-joys-all-blessings/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [All reformations seem formidable before they are attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/all-reformations-seem-formidable-before-they-are-attempted/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [He who has once taken to drink can seldom be said to be guilty of one sin only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/he-who-has-once-taken-to-drink-can-seldom-be-said-to-be-guilty-of-one/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [We are too ready to imagine that we are religious, because we know something of religion. We appropriate to ourselves the pious sentiments we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/we-are-too-ready-to-imagine-that-we-are-religious-because-we-know/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A corrupt practice may be abolished, but a soiled imagination is not easily cleansed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-corrupt-practice-may-be-abolished-but-a-soiled-imagination-is-not/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A faint endeavor ends in a sure defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-faint-endeavor-ends-in-a-sure-defeat/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Oh! the joy Of young ideas painted on the mind, In the warm glowing colors fancy spreads On objects not yet known, when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/oh-the-joy-of-young-ideas-painted-on-the-mind-in-the-warm-glowing/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The world does not require so much to be informed as to be reminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/the-world-does-not-require-so-much-to-be-informed-as-to-be-reminded/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If we commit any crime, or do any good here, it must be in thought; for our words are few and our deeds none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/if-we-commit-any-crime-or-do-any-good-here-it-must-be-in-thought-for/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [nothing is more common than to mistake the sign for the thing itself; nor is any practice more frequent than that of endeavoring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/nothing-is-more-common-than-to-mistake-the-sign-for-the-thing-itself/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Forgiveness spares the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/forgiveness-spares-the-expense-of-anger-the-cost-of-hatred-the-waste/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [How much it is to be regretted, that the British ladies should ever sit down contented to polish, when they are able to reform;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/how-much-it-is-to-be-regretted-that-the-british-ladies-should-ever/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Who are those ever multiplying authors that with unparalleled fecundity are overstocking the world with their quick succeeding progeny? They are novel-writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/who-are-those-ever-multiplying-authors-that-with-unparalleled/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) [Explore all 154 Hannah More quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## More Self righteousness quotes > [Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/self-righteousness-has-killed-more-people-than-smoking/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [But somehow in identifying myself as the healer, there was still a seed of both self-righteousness and defense from a kind of emptiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gangaji/but-somehow-in-identifying-myself-as-the-healer-there-was-still-a/) [Gangaji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gangaji/) > [If he were allowed contact with foreigners he would discover that they are creatures similar to himself and that most of what he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-he-were-allowed-contact-with-foreigners-he-would-discover-that/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Develop a little self-righteousness. A lot of that is an ugly thing, God knows, but a little applied over all your scruples is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/develop-a-little-self-righteousness-a-lot-of-that-is-an-ugly-thing/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Real joy is becoming exceedingly rare among artists of any kind. And I have an idea that those who can and do communicate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/real-joy-is-becoming-exceedingly-rare-among-artists-of-any-kind-and-i/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“It’s hard for most of us to admit, but when you start paying attention you’ll notice that you actually enjoy being angry. There’s this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/it-s-hard-for-most-of-us-to-admit-but-when-you-start-paying-attention/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [A trustworthy marriage has weathered temptation and anger and jealousy, resentment, self-righteousness and a little bit of selfishness. When you get over and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/a-trustworthy-marriage-has-weathered-temptation-and-anger-and/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/but-to-be-fully-known-and-truly-loved-is-well-a-lot-like-being-loved/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Piety /pi•e•ty/ (modern definition) 1. When you use Christ’s teachings to put someone in their place out of anger and self-righteousness. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/piety-pi-e-ty-modern-definition-1-when-you-use-christ-s-teachings-to/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“The main difference is that the enlightened believe that the poor criminal should be rehabilitated while the righteous believe that the immoral criminal should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ryan/the-main-difference-is-that-the-enlightened-believe-that-the-poor/) [William Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ryan/) > [So when we call pain a problem, we claim we do not deserve it. We are even prepared to scuttle God to maintain our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gerstner/so-when-we-call-pain-a-problem-we-claim-we-do-not-deserve-it-we-are/) [John Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gerstner/) > [There is always the fear of self-righteousness possessing us, the fear of arrogating to ourselves a superiority that we do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-is-always-the-fear-of-self-righteousness-possessing-us-the-fear/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 209 Self righteousness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I did not intend making a philippic against covetousness, a sin to which I believe no one here is addicted. 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