--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though we may not desire to detect fraud…" description: "\"Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it, for, as cunning is a crime, so is duplicity a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png" --- # Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on… ![“Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it, for, as cunning is a crime, so is duplicity a fault, and if men dread knaves, they also despise fools.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png) > “Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it, for, as cunning is a crime, so is duplicity a fault, and if men dread knaves, they also despise fools.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even if we dislike fraud, we must stay alert; both cunning and duplicity are crimes, and we despise both knaves and fools. **In simple terms:** Stay vigilant against fraud and deceit. Key Takeaway Never ignore fraud; recognize both clever and foolish wrongdoing. Themes ethics vigilance justice Mood serious critical Type ethical educational When to use this quote - business audits - online security - personal relationships Key Concepts criminal psychology social morality Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance trust with caution? - What signs indicate potential fraud? A Different Perspective Over‑vigilance can breed paranoia and mistrust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Duplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duplicity/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [A false mind is false in everything, just as a cross eye always looks askant. But one may err once, nay, a hundred times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/a-false-mind-is-false-in-everything-just-as-a-cross-eye-always-looks/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Sometimes duplicity and treason are markers of the enemy, and sometimes, the failed intention of a masterful ally. But, nevertheless, as they burden you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-duplicity-and-treason-are-markers-of-the-enemy-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is important for a woman to have the duplicity to make good use of whatever gifts she might have, however valueless they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-o-brien/it-is-important-for-a-woman-to-have-the-duplicity-to-make-good-use-of/) Anne O'Brien > [The upside of being in the closet is that you develop skills of duplicity, which are great for big-time politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-dick/the-upside-of-being-in-the-closet-is-that-you-develop-skills-of/) [Kirby Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirby-dick/) > [If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what I want, to work better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-try-to-use-human-influence-strategies-and-tactics-of-how-to-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The great majority of us are required to live a life of constant, systematic duplicity. Your health is bound to be affected if, day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/the-great-majority-of-us-are-required-to-live-a-life-of-constant/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [What strength belongs to every plant and animal in nature. The tree or the brook has no duplicity, no pretentiousness, no show. It is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-strength-belongs-to-every-plant-and-animal-in-nature-the-tree-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Even the world, that despises simplicity, does not profess to approve of duplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/even-the-world-that-despises-simplicity-does-not-profess-to-approve/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [I see nothing quite conclusive in the art of temporal government, But violence, duplicity and frequent malversation. King rules or barons rule: The strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/i-see-nothing-quite-conclusive-in-the-art-of-temporal-government-but/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“A moment ago you were a smart, independent individual and now you claim to be a silly, ignorant pawn. You cannot be both. Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-h-o-neil/a-moment-ago-you-were-a-smart-independent-individual-and-now-you/) [Vincent H. O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-h-o-neil/) > [“There is a perfect rout of characters in every man—and every man is like an actor’s trunk, full of strange creatures, new & old.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/there-is-a-perfect-rout-of-characters-in-every-man-and-every-man-is/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Operas elucidate, in a way sometimes absent in other theatrical productions, the very human fact that in every hero, there is a thread of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/operas-elucidate-in-a-way-sometimes-absent-in-other-theatrical/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [Women have been charged with deviousness and duplicity since the dawn of civilization so they have never been able to pretend that their masks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/women-have-been-charged-with-deviousness-and-duplicity-since-the-dawn/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [You have to be closer to religious origins -- the generation of the 20's was truly secular in that it still knew its theology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-douglas/you-have-to-be-closer-to-religious-origins-the-generation-of-the-20-s/) [Ann Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-douglas/) > [I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl. The secret mischiefs that I set abroach I lay unto the grievous charge of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-do-the-wrong-and-first-begin-to-brawl-the-secret-mischiefs-that-i/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) [Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. If the music industry wants to save money, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/stop-trying-to-treat-music-like-it-s-a-tennis-shoe-something-to-be/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [That surely must be a concern to anyone who decides this drug must be given to stop transmissions, again from mother to child, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/that-surely-must-be-a-concern-to-anyone-who-decides-this-drug-must-be/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) Browse all 2,677 Accounts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it, for, as cunning is a crime, so is duplicity a fault, and if men dread knaves, they also despise fools.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norm MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud-we-must-not-on-that-account/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accounts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud-we-must-not-on-that-account/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/norm-macdonald-1825_accounts_though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud_803461.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it…” — Norm MacDonald", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norm MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Though we may not desire to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud-we-must-not-on-that-account/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud-we-must-not-on-that-account/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```