It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.
Henry FieldingRead
It is much easier to make good men wise, than to make bad men good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Improving the character of those who are already good is simpler than transforming those who are bad.
This quote by Henry Fielding reflects the idea that individuals with inherent goodness possess the ability to gain wisdom more readily, while those who exhibit negative traits are often resistant to change. The essence of the statement highlights the challenges involved in ethical transformation and suggests that nurturing potential in good individuals may be more fruitful than attempting to rectify the flaws of the morally corrupt.
Themes
WisdomGoodnessTransformationCharacterEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about moral philosophy, this quote can be used to illustrate the difficulty of changing negative behavior.
More from Henry Fielding
All quotes βIt is not enough that your designs, nay that your actions, are intrinsically good, you must take care they shall appear so.
Henry FieldingRead
Let no man be sorry he has done good, because others concerned with him have done evil! If a man has acted right, he has done well, though along; if wrong, the sanction of all mankind will not justify him.
Henry FieldingRead
A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.
Henry FieldingRead
He grew weary of this condescension, and began to treat the opinions of his wife with that haughtiuess and insolence, which none but those who deserve some contempt themselves can bestow, and those only who deserve no contempt can bear.
Henry FieldingRead
Now in reality, the world has paid too great a compliment to critics, and has imagined them to be men of much greater profundity than they really are.
Henry FieldingRead
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