Advantage Quote by Samuel Johnson
“Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy grow faithless to each other.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Idler, 1759
Excessive moral laxity can erode trust, causing people to become cynical and unfaithful toward one another.
In simple terms: Immorality breeds distrust.
Key Takeaway
Guard integrity.
Themes
morality
trust
social cohesion
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- community building
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
ethical decay
cynicism
faithlessness
Questions to Reflect On
- What practices restore mutual trust?
- How can societies prevent moral erosion?
A Different Perspective
Not all societies experience the same degree of moral decline.
![“John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' also speaks urgently to today's concerns: the cratered trail of dreams for Mexican immigrants seeking a promised land in the Western [United States]; the perfidy of banks in foreclosing on poor people's homes; and the insurgent urge of the book's protagonist…” quote by Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/673/richard-corliss-4476_book_john-steinbeck-s-the-grapes-of-wrath-als_249829.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
