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About this quote

What does it mean?
Even a person with a natural tendency toward wrongdoing can appear honest.
In plain terms
A man seemed honest despite an innate villainy.
What can you take from it?
First impressions can hide deeper flaws.

Where it applies

  • hiring decisions
  • character assessment

Putting it to work

  • conducting background checks
  • looking beyond surface behavior

Questions to consider

  • How can we better detect hidden traits?

Another view

The statement assumes a universal 'natural villainy'.

More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens

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  2. This poor little one-horse town.

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  3. All men have heard of the Mormon Bible, but few except the 'elect' have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. I brought away a copy from Salt La…

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