--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great virtues of the German people…" description: "\"The great virtues of the German people have created more evils than idleness ever did vices\" — Paul Valery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/paul-valery-1464_character_the-great-virtues-of-the-german-people-h_1495420.jpg" --- # The great virtues of the German people have created more… ![“The great virtues of the German people have created more evils than idleness ever did vices” quote by Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/paul-valery-1464_character_the-great-virtues-of-the-german-people-h_1495420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/paul-valery-1464_character_the-great-virtues-of-the-german-people-h_1495420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/paul-valery-1464_character_the-great-virtues-of-the-german-people-h_1495420.jpg) > “The great virtues of the German people have created more evils than idleness ever did vices” [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote claims that the German people’s virtues have unintentionally produced more harm than the vices that stem from idleness would have caused **In simple terms:** Virtues can have unintended negative consequences Key Takeaway Beware that good traits may lead to harmful outcomes Themes philosophy ethics history Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - social analysis - education - policy making Key Concepts unintended consequences collective behavior Questions to Reflect On - Can virtues become vices in certain contexts? - What responsibilities do societies have to mitigate unintended harms? A Different Perspective It oversimplifies complex historical factors and attributes blame broadly ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Created Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-evils-5469810/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-idleness-2074366/) [German People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/german-people-277382/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Great Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-virtues-279277/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Insulting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insulting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues German](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-german-5469809/) ## Related quotes > [When economist William Beveridge dreamed up the postwar welfare state he wanted to fight five 'giant evils' - want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-kyle/when-economist-william-beveridge-dreamed-up-the-postwar-welfare-state/) [Jeremy Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-kyle/) > [“one of the great virtues of Christianity, according to (John)Wesley, is the way it fills up our every waking hour. 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