I have cultivated my hysteria with delight and terror. Now I suffer continually from vertigo, and today, 23rd of January, 1862, I have received a singular warning, I have felt the wind of the wing of madness pass over me.
Charles BaudelaireRead
If you have to lie, cheat, steal, obstruct and bully to get your point across, it must not be a point capable of surviving on its own merits.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True arguments should stand on their own; unethical tactics indicate weakness in one's position.
This quote emphasizes that if one's argument or point requires dishonest or unethical actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, obstructing, or bullying to be communicated or accepted, then the argument itself is fundamentally weak and lacks merit. It suggests that integrity and truthfulness are essential for a valid point to be recognized and accepted in any discourse.
Themes
LieCheatIntegrityTruthEthics
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on ethical marketing, this quote can remind participants about the importance of honesty.
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