"There is a demand in these days for men who can make wrong appear right"

Terence’s words speak to a timeless aspect of human society: the ease with which appearances can be manipulated and the tendency for some to prioritize persuasion over truth. At the heart of the statement is a wry observation that certain environments, especially in times of great social or political tumult, create an appetite not for honesty or ethical clarity, but for cunning and justification. The world sometimes values those with the rhetorical skills and cleverness to shape narratives, even when the narratives distort morality or fact. Those who excel at creating plausible excuses, deflecting blame, or reframing unpopular actions can find themselves in high demand. This aptitude is not always tied to virtue; often it rewards a talent for sophistry, obfuscation, or even deception.

Underlying the statement is a criticism of societal values and the power structures that operate within it. When external pressures, ambition, fears, uncertainty, and the shifting sands of public opinion, grow stronger, organizations, governments, and individuals may look for people capable of legitimizing questionable decisions or policies. These are individuals who can use their intellect, eloquence, and charm to disguise ethical breaches, turning vice into a convincing semblance of virtue. Their value comes not from fostering goodness but from facilitating the acceptance of what might otherwise be rejected.

The observation also cautions against complacency. When societies hunger for justifiers rather than truth-tellers, there is a latent danger: slippery slopes quickly appear where standards are lowered, accountability is weakened, and injustice is normalized. Terence’s implication is that the elevation of such individuals is both a symptom and a catalyst of moral decline. The duty of the community is, therefore, to remain vigilant, to question narratives, and to value honesty over mere plausibility, lest society be led astray by those whose greatest talent is to make the unacceptable appear reasonable.