"The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre"
- Michel de Montaigne
About this Quote
This quote by Michel de Montaigne suggests that in specific conditions, it is required for people to act in manner ins which are not typically thought about ethical or ethical. He is suggesting that in order to shield the general public excellent, people might have to resort to lying, dishonesty, as well as even violence. This is a challenging idea to accept, as it goes against our natural inclination to do what is right and simply. However, Montaigne is recommending that in certain instances, it is needed to deposit our ethical qualms in order to safeguard the higher good. This quote is a reminder that often, in order to shield the general public weal, we must make hard choices that may not constantly be preferred or ethically noise.
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time"
