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About this quote

What does it mean?
Confusing good and evil is an act of hostility toward the good.
In plain terms
Mixing up good and evil hurts the good.
What can you take from it?
Moral clarity protects goodness.

Where it applies

  • ethical debates
  • moral decisions

Putting it to work

  • clarify ethical standards

Questions to consider

  • When does confusion become malice?

Another view

Morality is subjective in many contexts.

More from Edmund Burke

  1. Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety.

    Permalink to quote #93
  2. An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak, and impossible to be silent.

    Permalink to quote #95
  3. There never was a bad man that had ability for good service.

    Permalink to quote #92

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