“ for human nature is rarely uniform. Himself the most false and insincere of mankind, some of the greatest errors of his life arose from too rash a confidence in the honour and integrity of others. ”
Walter Scott, Quentin Durward (1823). copy citation
| Author | Walter Scott |
|---|---|
| Source | Quentin Durward |
| Topic | integrity confidence |
| Date | 1823 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7853/7853-h/7853-h.htm |
Context
“and, though naturally proud and haughty, he hesitated not, with an inattention to the arbitrary divisions of society which was then thought something portentously unnatural, to raise from the lowest rank men whom he employed on the most important duties, and knew so well how to choose them, that he was rarely disappointed in their qualities. Yet there were contradictions in the character of this artful and able monarch; for human nature is rarely uniform. Himself the most false and insincere of mankind, some of the greatest errors of his life arose from too rash a confidence in the honour and integrity of others. When these errors took place, they seem to have arisen from an over refined system of policy, which induced Louis to assume the appearance of undoubting confidence in those whom it was his object to overreach;”
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