Apes Quote by Publilius Syrus
“A bad man becomes worse when he apes a saint.”
About This Quote
Source Fable: Sentences of Publilius Syrus, 1st century BC
Imitating a virtuous person can corrupt a bad person, amplifying his flaws.
In simple terms: Copying saints makes a bad man worse.
Key Takeaway
Beware of role models that reinforce negativity.
Themes
morality
imitation
character
ethics
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership training
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
self_deception
social_influence
identity
virtue
Questions to Reflect On
- What virtues are you emulating?
- How does imitation shape your behavior?
A Different Perspective
A saint's example may be misinterpreted, leading to hypocrisy.
![“He ["the male"] is trapped in a twilight zone halfway between humans and apes, and is far worse off than apes, because he is, first of all, capable of a large array of negative feelings that the apes aren't - hate, jealousy, contempt, disgust, guilt, shame, disgrace, doubt - and, secondly, he is…” quote by Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/278/valerie-solanas-22142_apes_he-the-male-is-trapped-in-a-twilight-zon_3137826.jpg)
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
