Action Quote by William Shakespeare
“We are oft to blame in this, - 'tis too much proved, - that with devotion's visage, and pios action we do sugar o'er the devil himself.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1, 1611
Human nature tends to excuse wrongdoing by attributing it to divine or noble motives, masking evil as virtue.
In simple terms: We excuse bad deeds by calling them noble.
Key Takeaway
Recognize true motives behind actions.
Themes
morality
selfdeception
virtue
evil
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- personal justifications
- legal defenses
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever justify harmful actions as noble?
- How can we see through moral disguises?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the frequency of such rationalizations.
