--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To scatter praise or blame without regard…" description: "\"To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general op..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/samuel-johnson-50_action_to-scatter-praise-or-blame-without-regar_2702161.jpg" --- # To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to… ![“To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion; and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/samuel-johnson-50_action_to-scatter-praise-or-blame-without-regar_2702161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/samuel-johnson-50_action_to-scatter-praise-or-blame-without-regar_2702161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/samuel-johnson-50_action_to-scatter-praise-or-blame-without-regar_2702161.jpg) > “To scatter praise or blame without regard to justice is to destroy the distinction of good and evil. Many have no other test of actions than general opinion; and all are so far influenced by a sense of reputation that they are often restrained by fear of reproach, and excited by hope of honour, when other principles have lost their power.” [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. Judging actions solely by popular opinion erodes moral standards, making good and evil indistinguishable. **In simple terms:** Relying on reputation blurs right from wrong. Key Takeaway Seek objective moral criteria. Themes morality reputation justice Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political decision making - personal reputation management - media criticism - legal judgments Key Concepts ethical relativism social pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate personal conscience from societal pressure? - What standards guide your judgments when reputation is at stake? A Different Perspective Public opinion can be manipulated, leading to false moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Blame Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame-regard-2742198/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Praise Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-blame/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Regard Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard-justice-2742197/) [Reproach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproach/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Restrained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-restrained-2742199/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to bear it in mind that nobody that ever lived is specially privileged; 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