2
Ethics, Self- Interest, and the Public Good
“ Ideas and institutions that have great benefit in
their own domain have disastrous consequences
when they are applied to another domain.” 1
“ So, two Cheers for democracy: one because it
admits variety and two because it permits
criticism. Two Cheers are quite enough: there is
no occasion to give three. Only Love the Beloved
Republic deserves that.” 2
“ Lying as a matter of convenience has become
almost a conventional tactic…. What is astonishing
about these lies is that they are treated as routine
instruments of governing, no reason to apologize…
What is astonishing is that deliberate lies are told
by people who espouse values that are supposed
to include honesty.” 3
“ As the Constitutional Convention of 1787 came to a
close, after three and a half months of deliberation,
a lady asked Dr. Franklin, “ Well, Doctor, what have
we got, a republic or a monarchy?” “ A republic,”
replied the Doctor, “ if you can keep it.” 4
1 Sir Jonathan Sacks,
Morals and Markets
( London: Institute for
Economic Affairs,
1999) p 53
2 “ What I Believe,” in E.
M. Forster, Two Cheers
for Democracy ( New York:
Harcourt, Brace and
World, 1938), p. 70
3 Daniel Schorr. NPR,
All Things Considered,
August 29, 2007
4 Anecdote from the
Records of the Federal
Constitution of 1787, Ed.,
Max Farrand, Vol. 3,
Appendix A., 1911
