“One can be a saint in an evil world, but it is quite difficult for an ordinary man to be honest in that way”
— Umberto Eco
Copied to clipboard
Simplified Meaning:
Being a very good, moral person among many bad people is possible, but it's very hard for a regular person to stay completely honest when surrounded by dishonesty. Imagine a workplace where most people lie and cheat to get ahead. A person who always tells the truth and plays fair will find it very challenging to succeed in that environment. This shows that while some people with strong principles might manage to stay good, an average person might struggle to maintain their honesty because of the pressure and temptations around them. To apply this idea in life, it's important to stay true to your values and find support from others who share the same principles. This way, you can better resist the pressures to compromise your honesty.
Related tags
Challenges Ethics Good vs evil Honesty Integrity Moral struggle Morality Ordinary people VirtueFEATURED QUOTES
