--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faction seldom leaves a man honest…" description: "\"Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png" --- # Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find… ![“Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png) > “Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being in a group can expose flaws, yet it also reveals hidden honesty. **In simple terms:** Groups can both reveal and conceal truth. Key Takeaway Balance group influence with personal integrity. Themes honesty integrity group dynamics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - political parties - social movements Key Concepts social psychology self‑deception authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does group membership shape your truth? - When does honesty thrive in crowds? A Different Perspective Group pressure may suppress individuality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faction/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“even in the quieter professions, there is a toil and a labour of the mind, if not of the body, which seldom leaves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/even-in-the-quieter-professions-there-is-a-toil-and-a-labour-of-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Faction before blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/faction-before-blood/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Faction is to party what the superlative is to the positive. Party is a political evil, and faction is the worst of all parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/faction-is-to-party-what-the-superlative-is-to-the-positive-party-is/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Every faction conditions its members to think and act a certain way. And most people do it. For most people, it's not hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/every-faction-conditions-its-members-to-think-and-act-a-certain-way/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-making-war-on-the-ossified/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-latent-causes-of-faction-are-thus-sown-in-the-nature-of-man-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It may be concluded that a pure democracy . . . can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure-democracy-can-admit-no-cure-for-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Faction is that hybrid of documented fact and novelistic elaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/faction-is-that-hybrid-of-documented-fact-and-novelistic-elaboration/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [There will always be, within a party, people who backed one candidate versus people who backed another, and there will be factions in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/there-will-always-be-within-a-party-people-who-backed-one-candidate/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Liberty is to faction what air is to fire...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/liberty-is-to-faction-what-air-is-to-fire/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [My mother told me once that we can't survive alone, but even if we could, we wouldn't want to. Without a faction we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-mother-told-me-once-that-we-can-t-survive-alone-but-even-if-we/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I think America right now is looking for somebody who appeals to every faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-think-america-right-now-is-looking-for-somebody-who-appeals-to/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) > [To live factionless Is not just to live in poverty and discomfort; it is to live divorced from society, separated from the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-live-factionless-is-not-just-to-live-in-poverty-and-discomfort-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [If that's your definition of the Clinton faction, then I think that that seems to be in ascendancy. That might include a guy like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podesta/if-that-s-your-definition-of-the-clinton-faction-then-i-think-that/) [John Podesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podesta/) > [It is amazing how pretending to be in a different faction changes everything -- even the way I walk. That must be why it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-is-amazing-how-pretending-to-be-in-a-different-faction-changes/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Faction quotes > [It is amazing how pretending to be in a different faction changes everything -- even the way I walk. That must be why it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-is-amazing-how-pretending-to-be-in-a-different-faction-changes/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [We are now living in a post-Roosevelt, post-Reagan universe. What comes next will not be post-partisan, because faction is an intrinsic human impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/we-are-now-living-in-a-post-roosevelt-post-reagan-universe-what-comes/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [If that's your definition of the Clinton faction, then I think that that seems to be in ascendancy. That might include a guy like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podesta/if-that-s-your-definition-of-the-clinton-faction-then-i-think-that/) [John Podesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podesta/) > [“Faction” is a type of historical fiction that combines fact with fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-herman/faction-is-a-type-of-historical-fiction-that-combines-fact-with/) Martin Herman > [To live factionless Is not just to live in poverty and discomfort; it is to live divorced from society, separated from the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-live-factionless-is-not-just-to-live-in-poverty-and-discomfort-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I think America right now is looking for somebody who appeals to every faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-think-america-right-now-is-looking-for-somebody-who-appeals-to/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) > [“But the reach of each faction is not limited to these areas. We give one another far more than can be adequately summarized. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/but-the-reach-of-each-faction-is-not-limited-to-these-areas-we-give/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [My mother told me once that we can't survive alone, but even if we could, we wouldn't want to. Without a faction we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-mother-told-me-once-that-we-can-t-survive-alone-but-even-if-we/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Liberty is to faction what air is to fire...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/liberty-is-to-faction-what-air-is-to-fire/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I regret..." Tobias tilts his head, and sighs. "I regret my choice." "What Choice?" "Dauntless," he says. "I was born Abnegation. I was planning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-regret-tobias-tilts-his-head-and-sighs-i-regret-my-choice-what/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [There will always be, within a party, people who backed one candidate versus people who backed another, and there will be factions in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/there-will-always-be-within-a-party-people-who-backed-one-candidate/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“MATTER OF FACTION Fractionalization by God or marginalization by man? Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/matter-of-faction-fractionalization-by-god-or-marginalization-by-man/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“The ability to think isn't exclusive to erudite”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/the-ability-to-think-isn-t-exclusive-to-erudite/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Faction is that hybrid of documented fact and novelistic elaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/faction-is-that-hybrid-of-documented-fact-and-novelistic-elaboration/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“For when people do not keep watch over the commons, it is destroyed. It results, then, that they fall into civil faction, compelling one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/for-when-people-do-not-keep-watch-over-the-commons-it-is-destroyed-it/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) [Browse all 44 Faction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-however-it-might-find-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-however-it-might-find-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/samuel-johnson-50_faction_faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-howev_2976759.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Faction seldom leaves a man honest,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-however-it-might-find-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/faction-seldom-leaves-a-man-honest-however-it-might-find-him/#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 } } ] } ```