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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

  • ethical review
  • corporate culture
  • social norms

Putting it to work

  • look beyond surface behavior
  • examine subtle harms

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

  1. That chastity of honour which felt a stain like a wound.

    Permalink to quote #103
  2. Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.

    Permalink to quote #105
  3. 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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