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If it were absolutely necessary to choose, I would rather be guilty of an immoral act than of a cruel one.

— Anatole France

S’il fallait absolument choisir, j’aimerais mieux faire une chose immorale qu’une chose cruelle.

Original text (French)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Le Lys Rouge [The Red Lily] (1894), ch. 1

More quotes by Anatole France

The gods conform scrupulously to the sentiments of their worshippers: they have reasons for so doing.

The White Stone (1905)

To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Archangel Michael, and you, Powers, Thrones, and Dominations, swear all of you to be faithful to your God.

The Revolt of the Angels (1914)

Innocence most often is a good fortune and not a virtue.

Irony is the gaiety of reflection and the joy of wisdom.

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Attribution

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