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Meaning
The quote suggests that most people can only strongly uphold one principle or standard of conduct, rather than being equally rigid about many. It points to the limits of moral resolve and how people often choose one area where they are uncompromising. It also implies that ethical conviction is selective rather than evenly spread across life.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
George Bernard Shaw: Lectures & Essays: Enriched edition. (2022)
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
The phrase appears in the book "George Bernard Shaw: Lectures & Essays: Enriched edition. (2022)" by George Bernard Shaw (Google Books snippet); no earlier source was checked.
Did You Know?
Not documented yet.
About George Bernard Shaw
Irish playwright and critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Shaw is best known for his sharp social commentary and satirical plays that exposed class inequality and political hypocrisy. His works, including *Man and Superman* and *Pygmalion*, blend wit with progressive ideas, challenging conventional morality and advocating for humanist values.
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Truth: more sayings
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Books by George Bernard Shaw
Candida
1994
Major Barbara
2006
Pygmalion
2009
Heartbreak House
1965
Back to Methuselah
2006