"We are not more ingenious in searching out bad motives for good actions when performed by others, than good motives for bad actions when performed by ourselves."

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Inference is founded upon obvious reasons. Regard to reputation has a less active influence, when the infamy of a bad action is to be divided upon a number, than when it is to fall singly upon one. A spirit of faction . . . will often hurry the persons of whom they were composed into improprieties and excesses for which they would blush in a private capacity.

— James Madison