Chapter 20 » 20.47

Honesty and integrity

To conform a little to a wrong way strengthens the hands of such who carry wrong customs to their utmost extent; and the more a person appears to be virtuous and heavenly-minded, the more powerfully does his conformity operate in favour of evil-doers… While we profess in all cases to live in constant opposition to that which is contrary to universal righteousness … what language is sufficient to set forth the strength of those obligations we are under to beware lest by our example we lead others wrong?

John Woolman, 1763

See also 19.01 & 20.22

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