“To do a great right do a little wrong.”
- April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616
- Born in England
- Playwright, poet, actor
- Wrote many masterpieces such as “Hamlet,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Macbeth,” and had a great influence on English literature
Quote
“To do a great right do a little wrong.”
Explanation
This quote from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice suggests that sometimes achieving a greater good or noble outcome may require engaging in actions that, on the surface, seem morally wrong or unethical. “To do a great right” refers to accomplishing something of significant virtue or justice, while “do a little wrong” implies that in order to bring about this greater good, one might have to compromise on smaller moral principles. This reflects the ethical dilemma where good intentions may justify actions that would normally be seen as immoral or unjust.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the moral complexity of decision-making, where individuals or leaders sometimes face situations where they must choose between lesser evils to achieve a greater good. For example, breaking the law to expose a larger injustice or sacrificing personal gain to benefit the greater community. It raises the question of whether ethical compromises can be justified when the end result leads to a more positive or just outcome.
Ultimately, this quote challenges us to reflect on the nature of moral decisions, asking whether right and wrong can ever be flexible in the pursuit of a noble cause. It suggests that sometimes, the road to justice or goodness may require difficult choices or actions that don’t align perfectly with traditional ethics but aim for a greater purpose.
