The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. -Thomas Babington Macaulay, author and statesman (25 Oct 1800-1859)
Well, do I dare tackle that quote?! (and without coffee, I might add...where we are staying at the beach has a cafeteria and I will get coffee at 7:30). Surely most of us have a moral compass, a conscience, that keeps us from doing horrific things. But then there are the deviances we just might do if our mothers would never know. Before I dig myself into a hole with talking about some of those, think about what Mr. Macaulay is saying. He was writing a century ago, a time religious fervor was quite strong. Whether "others" would find us out for dipping into the till or beating our spouses, many would believe that God would know. In these modern times of computers and devices and drones and cameras on lamp posts, we are watched in a variety of ways. Our thoughts remain our own, however, and the question may be asked: what would we think if no one would ever know? - Beth Almond Ford
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