You can't go around hoping that most people have sterling moral characters. The most you can hope for is that people will pretend that they do.

Summary

This quote highlights a realistic perspective on human nature. It implies that one should not naively expect everyone to possess unwavering moral values. Instead, one can only hope that people will pretend to be morally upright, adhering to societal expectations. It suggests that people's true moral character can sometimes be hidden or inconsistent. This quote might serve as a reminder to maintain a healthy skepticism and not solely rely on appearances or assumptions about others' moral virtues.

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