---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We’re all good when it suits us, he used…"
description: "\"We’re all good when it suits us, he used to say: that doesn’t count. It’s when you want so badly to do something wrong—when you’re about to make a fort..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/ken-follett-941_deals_we-re-all-good-when-it-suits-us-he-used_1772246.jpg"
---

#  We’re all good when it suits us, he used to say: that…

![“We’re all good when it suits us, he used to say: that doesn’t count. It’s when you want so badly to do something wrong—when you’re about to make a fortune from a dishonest deal, or kiss the lovely lips of your neighbor’s wife, or tell a lie to get yourself out of terrible trouble—that’s when you…” quote by Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/ken-follett-941_deals_we-re-all-good-when-it-suits-us-he-used_1772246.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/ken-follett-941_deals_we-re-all-good-when-it-suits-us-he-used_1772246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/ken-follett-941_deals_we-re-all-good-when-it-suits-us-he-used_1772246.jpg)

> “We’re all good when it suits us, he used to say: that doesn’t count. It’s when you want so badly to do something wrong—when you’re about to make a fortune from a dishonest deal, or kiss the lovely lips of your neighbor’s wife, or tell a lie to get yourself out of terrible trouble—that’s when you need the rules. Your integrity is like a sword, he would say: you shouldn’t wave it until you’re about to put it to the test.”

[Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/)

## About This Quote

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

Rules become essential when tempted to act unethically; integrity should be reserved for moments of moral testing.

**In simple terms:** Integrity is a sword for tough choices.

Key Takeaway

Use rules as a moral compass in temptation.

Themes

integrity ethics temptation

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- personal relationships
- legal dilemmas
- financial decisions

Key Concepts

moral philosophy self‑control character testing

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you trust your judgment over strict rules?
- How do you balance flexibility with moral standards?

A Different Perspective

Rigid rules can stifle flexibility in honest situations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/)

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