Le scelerat a ses vertus, comme l'honnete homme a ses faiblesses.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The villain has his virtues, just as the honest man has his weaknesses.
- In plain terms
- Bad people have good traits, and good people have bad traits.
- What can you take from it?
- No one is entirely good or evil; everyone has mixed traits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can a bad person be good?
- How do you judge someone with mixed traits?
Another view
This may excuse harmful behavior by framing it as mixed character.
More from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
J'ai ete etonne du plaisir qu'on eprouve en faisant le bien.
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