Benefits Quote by Jean Racine
“A benefit cited by way of reproach is equivalent to an injury.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Phèdre (or other tragedy), 1677
A justification for a benefit that actually harms is as harmful as the injury itself.
In simple terms: Bad excuses can cause more harm.
Key Takeaway
Beware of rationalizations that cause damage.
Themes
ethics
logic
consequences
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal arguments
- political rhetoric
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
moral reasoning
self‑deception
harmful justification
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you accepted a benefit that turned out harmful?
- Can a good intention ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
The statement may oversimplify complex cause‑effect relationships.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
