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To how much lying, extravagance, hypocrisy and servilism does not the fear of ridicule lead? Human respect makes us cowards and slaves. It may deter from evil, but much oftener it drives to baseness. “We are too much afraid,” said Cato, “of death, exile and poverty.”

— John Lancaster Spalding Aphorisms and Reflections (1901)

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More quotes by John Lancaster Spalding

There are faults which show heart and win hearts, while the virtue in which there is no love, repels.

Aphorisms and Reflections (1901)

Since the mass of mankind are too ignorant or too indolent to think seriously, if majorities are right it is by accident.

Aphorisms and Reflections (1901)

The disinterested love of truth which culture fosters is akin to the unselfishness which is a characteristic of the good.

Aphorisms and Reflections (1901)

To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one’s self the ill will of many.

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Perfection is beyond our reach, but they who earnestly strive to become perfect, acquire excellences and virtues of which the multitude have no conception.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Lancaster Spalding (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.