It's pretty generally understood that men don't aspire after the absolute right, but only to do about as well as the rest of the world.
 Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). copy citation

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Author Harriet Beecher Stowe
Source Uncle Tom's Cabin
Topic understanding rest
Date 1852
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/203/203-h/203-h.htm

Context

“said he, suddenly resuming his gay tone, "all I want is that different things be kept in different boxes. The whole frame-work of society, both in Europe and America, is made up of various things which will not stand the scrutiny of any very ideal standard of morality. It's pretty generally understood that men don't aspire after the absolute right, but only to do about as well as the rest of the world. Now, when any one speaks up, like a man, and says slavery is necessary to us, we can't get along without it, we should be beggared if we give it up, and, of course, we mean to hold on to it,—this is strong, clear, well-defined language;” source