--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both as to high and low indifferently…" description: "\"Both as to high and low indifferently, men are prepossessed, charmed, fascinated by success; successful crimes are praised very much like virtue itself..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_able_both-as-to-high-and-low-indifferently-me_3225187.png" --- # Both as to high and low indifferently, men are… ![“Both as to high and low indifferently, men are prepossessed, charmed, fascinated by success; successful crimes are praised very much like virtue itself, and good fortune is not far from occupying the place of the whole cycle of virtues. It must be an atrocious act, a base and hateful deed, which…” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_able_both-as-to-high-and-low-indifferently-me_3225187.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_able_both-as-to-high-and-low-indifferently-me_3225187.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_able_both-as-to-high-and-low-indifferently-me_3225187.png) > “Both as to high and low indifferently, men are prepossessed, charmed, fascinated by success; successful crimes are praised very much like virtue itself, and good fortune is not far from occupying the place of the whole cycle of virtues. It must be an atrocious act, a base and hateful deed, which success would not be able to justify.” [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are drawn to success and treat it like a virtue, even when it stems from immoral acts. **In simple terms:** Success is admired even when immoral. Key Takeaway Beware glorifying success without moral scrutiny. Themes ethics success virtue hypocrisy Mood critical reflective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political ambition - corporate culture - celebrity scandals - historical revolutions Key Concepts moral relativism social influence Questions to Reflect On - How do we differentiate genuine virtue from successful wrongdoing? - What mechanisms can prevent moral blind spots in societies? A Different Perspective Success can mask wrongdoing, leading to misplaced praise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Charmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charmed/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Cycle Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle-virtues-6078989/) [Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycles/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Fascinated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinated/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Good fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fortune/) [Hateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hateful/) [Highs and lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highs-and-lows/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Like Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-virtue-525324/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-good-422310/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Atrocious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-atrocious-6078988/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [No vice exists which does not pretend to be more or less like some virtue, and which does not take advantage of this assumed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/no-vice-exists-which-does-not-pretend-to-be-more-or-less-like-some/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. 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The good want the old, and that old should be preserved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-noble-man-wants-to-create-something-new-and-a-new-virtue-the-good/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There is a certain virtue in every good man, which night and day stirs up the mind with the stimulus of glory, and reminds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-is-a-certain-virtue-in-every-good-man-which-night-and-day-stirs/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Virtue is something you have to get good at, like playing the trombone or tolerating bores at parties. Being a virtuous human being takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/virtue-is-something-you-have-to-get-good-at-like-playing-the-trombone/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. 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