Thou shalt not covet, but tradition Approves all forms of competition.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote contrasts the moral command against coveting with the societal acceptance of competition.
- In plain terms
- People are told not to want what others have, but they are encouraged to compete.
- What can you take from it?
- Competition is often valued more than ethical restraint in society.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do societies encourage competition if it breeds coveting?
- How do you balance ambition with contentment?
Another view
It oversimplifies the complex relationship between individual desire and social structure.
More from Arthur Hugh Clough
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