Vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its grossness.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- When vice becomes subtle or refined, it loses some of its obvious harm.
- In plain terms
- Vice is less evil when it is not obvious.
- What can you take from it?
- Watch for hidden forms of vice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we spot subtle vice?
- Does hiding vice make it better?
Another view
Refined vice can still cause deep damage.
More from Edmund Burke
That chastity of honour which felt a stain like a wound.
Permalink to quote #103 Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.
Permalink to quote #105 The unbought grace of life, the cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise, is gone!
Permalink to quote #102
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