Absurd Quote by Samuel Johnson
“Nothing is more common than for men to make partial and absurd distinctions between vices of equal enormity, and to observe some of the divine commands with great scrupulousness, while they violate others, equally important, without any concern, or the least apparent conciousness of guilt. Alas, it is only wisdom which perceives this tragedy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Idler, 1759
People often obey some moral rules meticulously while ignoring equally important ones, revealing a selective moral blindness that only wisdom can expose.
In simple terms: Selective morality is common.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate consistent ethics.
Themes
morality
hypocrisy
wisdom
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- leadership
- policy making
Key Concepts
ethical consistency
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- Which rules do you follow selectively?
- How can you achieve moral consistency?
A Different Perspective
Changing ingrained habits is difficult.
![“There is no vice, of which a man can be guilty, no meanness, no shabbiness, no unkindness, which excited so much indignation among his contemporaries, friends and neighbors, as his success. This is the one unpardonable crime, which reason cannot defend, nor [can] humility mitigate.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dfe/arthur-schopenhauer-226_crime_there-is-no-vice-of-which-a-man-can-be-g_1328733.jpg)
