--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man has so far corrupted and…" description: "\"When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg" --- # When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the… ![“When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg) > “When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to \[profess\] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corrupting one's mind leads to moral decay and paves the way for further wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** A corrupted mind invites more crimes. Key Takeaway Guard mental purity. Themes morality integrity crime Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - political discourse - ethical decision making Key Concepts philosophy ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your mental integrity? - What signs indicate moral compromise? A Different Perspective A corrupted mind may be justified by external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age of reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-of-reason/) [Chastity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastity/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Honest truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-truth/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion and government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-and-government/) ## Related quotes > [It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-impossible-to-calculate-the-moral-mischief-if-i-may-so-express/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [As by the fires of experience, so by commission of crime you learn real morals. Commit all crimes, familiarize yourself with all sins, take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-by-the-fires-of-experience-so-by-commission-of-crime-you-learn/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [He invites the commission of a crime who does not forbid it, when it is in his power to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-invites-the-commission-of-a-crime-who-does-not-forbid-it-when-it/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [With the law books filled with a great assortment of crimes, a prosecutor stands a fair chance of finding at least a technical violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/with-the-law-books-filled-with-a-great-assortment-of-crimes-a/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [Where is the expectation of privacy in the commission of a crime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-tripp/where-is-the-expectation-of-privacy-in-the-commission-of-a-crime/) [Linda Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-tripp/) > [The negro has suffered far more from the commission of this crime against the women of his race by white men than the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-negro-has-suffered-far-more-from-the-commission-of-this-crime/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [“Only the toughest among women will make the necessary next moves, the revolutionary moves, and among prostituted women one finds the toughest if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/only-the-toughest-among-women-will-make-the-necessary-next-moves-the/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Take away from Genesis the belief that Moses was the author, on which only the strange believe that it is the word of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/take-away-from-genesis-the-belief-that-moses-was-the-author-on-which/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“You mean you prostituted yourself out to the masses? To draw them away? That was sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-chase/you-mean-you-prostituted-yourself-out-to-the-masses-to-draw-them-away/) [Nichole Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-chase/) > [Whenever the method of Worship Becomes more Important than the Person of Worship, We have already prostituted Our Worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judson-cornwall/whenever-the-method-of-worship-becomes-more-important-than-the-person/) [Judson Cornwall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judson-cornwall/) > [“She was no malleable, since frigid, substance upon which desires might be executed; she was not a true prostitute for she was the object…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/she-was-no-malleable-since-frigid-substance-upon-which-desires-might/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [“No high-minded man, no man of right feeling, can contemplate the lumbering and slovenly lying of the present day without grieving to see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/no-high-minded-man-no-man-of-right-feeling-can-contemplate-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Journalism should never be prostituted for selfish ends or for the sake of merely earning a livelihood or, worse still, for amassing money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/journalism-should-never-be-prostituted-for-selfish-ends-or-for-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Age of reason quotes > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“If one divided all of human science into two parts - the one common to all men, the other particular to the learned -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/if-one-divided-all-of-human-science-into-two-parts-the-one-common-to/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [We live in a world filled with language. Language imparts identity, meaning, and perspective to our human community. Writers are either polluters or part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/we-live-in-a-world-filled-with-language-language-imparts-identity/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [The story of 'Mirror Mirror' is in many ways a story about evolution. It's about the evolution of a child into an adult. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-story-of-mirror-mirror-is-in-many-ways-a-story-about-evolution-it/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“From the French perspective, this was not attachment parenting. This was indulgent parenting. Traditionally, the French believe that children who have not yet reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-le-billon/from-the-french-perspective-this-was-not-attachment-parenting-this/) [Karen Le Billon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-le-billon/) > [“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/of-all-tyrannies-a-tyranny-sincerely-exercised-for-the-good-of-its/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [As I have told many, the only goal my dad had for me was to keep me alive to reach the age of reason!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/as-i-have-told-many-the-only-goal-my-dad-had-for-me-was-to-keep-me/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [“I have now gone through the examination of the four books ascribed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; and when it is considered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/i-have-now-gone-through-the-examination-of-the-four-books-ascribed-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“I’m a European, Peter. If I had a mission – if I was ever aware of one beyond our business with the enemy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-m-a-european-peter-if-i-had-a-mission-if-i-was-ever-aware-of-one/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Every formula of every religion has in this age of reason, to submit to the acid test of reason and universal assent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-formula-of-every-religion-has-in-this-age-of-reason-to-submit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Comey had turned away from his upbringing and embraced various kinds of evangelism. He wrote his thesis on how the evangelist teacher Jerry Falwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/comey-had-turned-away-from-his-upbringing-and-embraced-various-kinds/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [The marriage of reason and nightmare which has dominated the 20th century has given birth to an ever more ambiguous world. Across the communications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/the-marriage-of-reason-and-nightmare-which-has-dominated-the-20th/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [“4. Religion. Your reason is now mature enough to examine this object. In the first place, divest yourself of all bias in favor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/4-religion-your-reason-is-now-mature-enough-to-examine-this-object-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Hold childhood in reverence, and do not be in any hurry to judge it for good or ill. Leave exceptional cases to show themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/hold-childhood-in-reverence-and-do-not-be-in-any-hurry-to-judge-it/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) [Browse all 102 Age of reason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-of-reason/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Paine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-prostituted-the-chastity-of-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age of reason" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-prostituted-the-chastity-of-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not…” — Thomas Paine", "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": "Thomas Paine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When a man has so far...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-prostituted-the-chastity-of-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-prostituted-the-chastity-of-his/#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 } } ] } ```