QuoteProject
The world has long observed that small acts of immorality, if repeated, will destroy character. It is equally manifest, though never said, that uttering nonsense and half-truth without cease ends by destroying Intellect
Jacques Barzun
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Repeated immoral actions can ruin a person's character, just as constant falsehoods can corrupt one's intellect.

This quote emphasizes the dangers of both moral negligence and intellectual dishonesty. Jacques Barzun suggests that just as small, repeated immoral actions can erode a person's character over time, the continuous repetition of nonsense and half-truths can lead to a degradation of one's intellect. It warns against complacency in both personal ethics and the pursuit of truth, reminding us that even minor infractions, when regularly committed, can have significant long-term consequences.

Themes

CharacterIntellectMoralityFalsehoodTruth

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a discussion about the importance of integrity in personal relationships.

More from Jacques Barzun

Let us face a pluralistic world in which there are no universal churches, no single remedy for all diseases, no one way to teach or write or sing, no magic diet, no world poets, and no chosen races, but only the wretched and wonderfully diversified human race.
Jacques BarzunRead
Machines are admirable and tyrannize only with the user's consent. Where, then, is the enemy? Not where the machine gives relief from drudgery but where human judgment abdicates. The smoothest machine-made product of the age is the organization man, for even the best organizing principle tends to corrupt, and the mechanical principle corrupts absolutely.
Jacques BarzunRead
In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.
Jacques BarzunRead
I can only think that the book is read because it deals with the difficulties of schooling, which do not change. Please note: the difficulties, not the problems. Problems are solved or disappear with the revolving times. Difficulities remain. It will always be difficult to teach well, to learn accurately; to read, write, and count readily and competently; to acquire a sense of history and start one's education or anothers.
Jacques BarzunRead
Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble, on paper not eternal bronze: Let that first sentence be as stupid as it wishes.
Jacques BarzunRead
Schools are not intended to moralize a wicked world, but to impart knowledge and develop intelligence, with only two social aims in mind: prepare to take on one's share in the world's work, and perhaps in addition, lend a hand in improving society, after schooling is done.
Jacques BarzunRead

Similar quotes

If the building of a bridge does not enrich the awareness of those who work on it, then the bridge ought not to be built.
Frantz FanonRead
In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.
Blaise PascalRead
Our biggest problem as human beings is not knowing that we don't know.
Virginia SatirRead
Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven.
Edward De BonoRead
Until you make peace with your difficult memories, that pain will continue to bleed into your current and future experiences.
Iyanla VanzantRead
I know who I am, I know what I can and can't do. I know what I will and won't do. I know what I'm capable of and I don't agree to do things that I don't think I can pull off.
Dolly PartonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.