I have, and must have, confidence in the possible virtue of human nature; and although in entertaining this idea, a man must, and will sometimes, be disappointed, yet if it is coupled with a sound judgment and close observations, I believe he could make fewer great mistakes, than one whose principle is the universal rascality of the species.
Quotations about:
rascal
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Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one rascal less in the world.
Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
(Attributed)
Variants include "one less rascal" and "one less scoundrel."
Widely attributed to Carlyle back to the late 19th Century (e.g., 1873, 1876, 1876), during his lifetime. While that should make a misattribution or misquote less likely, thus far I cannot find the above in online searches of his body of work, nor any references to works that would include it.
Rascality has limits; stupidity has not.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) French emperor, military leader
(Attributed)
