---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no such thing as accomplishing a…"
description: "\"There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of \"expediency.\" There is no such thing as sliding up- hill.In morals the only sl..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/henry-david-thoreau-20_expediency_there-is-no-such-thing-as-accomplishing_2143936.jpg"
---

#  There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform…

![“There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of "expediency." There is no such thing as sliding up- hill.In morals the only sliders are backsliders.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/henry-david-thoreau-20_expediency_there-is-no-such-thing-as-accomplishing_2143936.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/henry-david-thoreau-20_expediency_there-is-no-such-thing-as-accomplishing_2143936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/henry-david-thoreau-20_expediency_there-is-no-such-thing-as-accomplishing_2143936.jpg)

> “There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of "expediency." There is no such thing as sliding up- hill.In morals the only sliders are backsliders.”

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## About This Quote

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

True reform cannot rely on shortcuts; moral progress demands steadfastness, not expedient compromises.

**In simple terms:** Righteous change needs integrity, not shortcuts.

Key Takeaway

Avoid expediency in ethical work.

Themes

integrity reform morality

Mood

serious reflective

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- political activism
- community organizing
- personal ethics
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

ethical steadfastness principled action

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you resist the lure of quick fixes?
- What values guide your reform efforts?

A Different Perspective

Expediency may seem efficient but erodes trust and long‑term impact.

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> [All fables, indeed, have their morals; but the innocent enjoy the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-fables-indeed-have-their-morals-but-the-innocent-enjoy-the-story/)

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> [We are ashamed of our fear; for we know that a righteous man would not suspect danger nor incur any. Wherever a man feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-ashamed-of-our-fear-for-we-know-that-a-righteous-man-would-not/)

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> [moral, adj. Conforming to a local and mutable standard of right. Having the quality of general expediency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/moral-adj-conforming-to-a-local-and-mutable-standard-of-right-having/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [It is for ordinary minds, not for psychoanalysts, that our rules of evidence are framed. They have their source very often in considerations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cardozo/it-is-for-ordinary-minds-not-for-psychoanalysts-that-our-rules-of/)

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> [I had to learn that there is more to the human being than material comfort, more than success, more even than national spirit or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-suyin/i-had-to-learn-that-there-is-more-to-the-human-being-than-material/)

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> [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-are-successfully-to-lead-their-fellow-men-should-have-once/)

[Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/)

> [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [A certain alloy of expediency improves the gold of morality and makes it wear all the longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-marquis/a-certain-alloy-of-expediency-improves-the-gold-of-morality-and-makes/)

[Don Marquis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-marquis/)

> [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/)

Francis Landey Patton

## More by Henry David Thoreau

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

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[Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

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[Virgilia Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgilia-peterson/)

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