--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are indeed, in the present…" description: "\"There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of palliating our own faults and the convenience of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png" --- # There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind… ![“There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of palliating our own faults and the convenience of imposing on the ignorance or credulity of others so frequently occur; so many immediate evils are” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png) > “There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of palliating our own faults and the convenience of imposing on the ignorance or credulity of others so frequently occur; so many immediate evils are” [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. People often avoid truth because it’s easier to excuse themselves or exploit others’ ignorance, leading to many immediate harms. **In simple terms:** Truth is avoided for convenience, causing harm. Key Takeaway Seek honesty despite ease. Themes truth morality human nature Mood critical serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - media consumption - personal relationships - business ethics Key Concepts ethical relativism self-deception Questions to Reflect On - Why do we prefer comforting falsehoods? - What costs arise from ignoring truth? A Different Perspective Convenient lies can be socially reinforced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“how lamentable is the present Corruption of the World! how impure are the Channels through which Trade hath a Conveyance!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-woolman/how-lamentable-is-the-present-corruption-of-the-world-how-impure-are/) [John Woolman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-woolman/) > [Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects, and produces new incitements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-certain-characteristics-of-a-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Every man prefers virtue, when there is not some strong incitement to transgress its precepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-prefers-virtue-when-there-is-not-some-strong-incitement-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the constitution of man that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-constitution-of-man-that-labour-may-be-styled-its-own/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Credulity is the common failing of inexperienced virtue; and he who is spontaneously suspicious may justly be charged with radical corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/credulity-is-the-common-failing-of-inexperienced-virtue-and-he-who-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Among the calamities of war may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth by falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-calamities-of-war-may-be-justly-numbered-the-diminution-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-calamities-of-war-may-be-numbered-the-diminution-of-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Of all kinds of credulity, the most obstinate is that of party-spirit; of men, who, being numbered, they know not why, in any party,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/of-all-kinds-of-credulity-the-most-obstinate-is-that-of-party-spirit/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Ye who listen with credulity to the whispers of fancy, and pursue with eagerness the phantoms of hope; who expect that age will perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/ye-who-listen-with-credulity-to-the-whispers-of-fancy-and-pursue-with/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Cunning has effect from the credulity of others, rather than from the abilities of those who are cunning. It requires no extraordinary talents to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/cunning-has-effect-from-the-credulity-of-others-rather-than-from-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Allow me to add that it is my conviction that the contents of Der Stuermer as such were not (incitement). During the whole 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-streicher/allow-me-to-add-that-it-is-my-conviction-that-the-contents-of-der/) [Julius Streicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-streicher/) > [Success: a marvelous stimulant, bubbling with inspiration and incitement. But for all except the few who are strong and steadfast, there lurks beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hopkins-adams/success-a-marvelous-stimulant-bubbling-with-inspiration-and/) [Samuel Hopkins Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-hopkins-adams/) > [Palestinians need to stop the incitement. They need to stop that kind of activity. But at the same time, there is a need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/palestinians-need-to-stop-the-incitement-they-need-to-stop-that-kind/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Netanyahu is no king, his government sows division and incitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-gantz/netanyahu-is-no-king-his-government-sows-division-and-incitement/) [Benny Gantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-gantz/) > [“Every idea is an incitement. It offers itself for belief and if believed it is acted on unless some other belief outweighs it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/every-idea-is-an-incitement-it-offers-itself-for-belief-and-if/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/) ## 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 Convenience quotes > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [“A phone call should be a convenience to the caller, not an inconvenience to the called.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-phone-call-should-be-a-convenience-to-the-caller-not-an/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The average family exists only on paper and its average budget is a fiction, invented by statisticians for the convenience of statisticians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-porter/the-average-family-exists-only-on-paper-and-its-average-budget-is-a/) [Sylvia Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-porter/) > [What you call disorder is nothing else than one of the laws of the order you comprehend not and which you have erroneously named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/what-you-call-disorder-is-nothing-else-than-one-of-the-laws-of-the/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“And what is the state but a servant and a convenience for a large number of people, just like the electric light and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/and-what-is-the-state-but-a-servant-and-a-convenience-for-a-large/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Thirty or forty proprietors, with incomes answering to between one thousand and five thousand a year, would create a much more effectual demand for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/thirty-or-forty-proprietors-with-incomes-answering-to-between-one/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [If you spot a market where the only choices are at either one end or the other - high fidelity or high convenience -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/if-you-spot-a-market-where-the-only-choices-are-at-either-one-end-or/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Unfortunately, nature seems unaware of our intellectual need for convenience and unity, and very often takes delight in complication and diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/unfortunately-nature-seems-unaware-of-our-intellectual-need-for/) [Santiago Ramon y Cajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/) > [What more degrades woman today than that she so often seeks marriage as a support? Why is the holy sacrament of love, the sanctity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-ames/what-more-degrades-woman-today-than-that-she-so-often-seeks-marriage/) [Mary C. Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-ames/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [What is undeniable is that when comforts and convenience sap our energies and idealism, inactivity secretes sloth in to our minds like a poison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/what-is-undeniable-is-that-when-comforts-and-convenience-sap-our/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [It's a double-headed coin, because technology is a convenience but it's stifled our attention spans. At one time, albums had songs that were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/it-s-a-double-headed-coin-because-technology-is-a-convenience-but-it/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) Browse all 451 Convenience quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of palliating our own faults and the convenience of imposing on the ignorance or credulity of others so frequently occur; so many immediate evils are", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corruption-of-mankind-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Convenience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corruption-of-mankind-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/samuel-johnson-50_convenience_there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corrupti_2413745.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of…” — 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": "There are indeed, in the present...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corruption-of-mankind-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corruption-of-mankind-many/#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 } } ] } ```