Corrupt Quote by William Godwin
“Self-deception is so far from impossible that it is one of the most ordinary phenomena with which we are acquainted. Nothing is more usual than for a man to impute his actions to honorable motives when it is nearly demonstrable that they flowed from some corrupt and contemptible force.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, 1793
Self‑deception is common; people often rationalize wrongful actions as noble, masking corrupt motives behind respectable explanations.
In simple terms: People lie to themselves about why they act badly.
Question motives behind your actions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- political rhetoric
- personal conflicts
- legal defenses
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What motives do you hide from yourself?
- How can you uncover true intentions?
It may understate the role of unconscious impulses.