Who said “The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies…”?

Verified

Georges Bernanos. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Last essays, 1955

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Last essays, 1955.

APA

Bernanos, G. (n.d.). The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14448-the-first-sign-of-corruption-in-a-society/

MLA

Bernanos, Georges. “The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14448-the-first-sign-of-corruption-in-a-society/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bernanos, Georges. “The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14448-the-first-sign-of-corruption-in-a-society/.

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More quotes by Georges Bernanos

“No one ever discovers the depths of his own loneliness.”
Loneliness
“A poor man with nothing in his belly needs hope, illusion, more than bread.”
Poverty and The Poor
“The wish to pray is a prayer in itself. God can ask no more than that of us.”
Prayer
“It's a fine thing to rise above pride, but you must have pride in order to do so.”
Pride
“Faith is not a thing which one ''loses,'' we merely cease to shape our lives by it.”
Faith
“It is the perpetual dread of fear, the fear of fear, that shapes the face of a brave man.”
Courage
All 21 Georges Bernanos quotes →