But the reader must keep clear in his mind the distinction between conduct that is right or permissible¹ in itself and conduct that becomes either inadvisable or mischievous² and wrong because of the circumstances about it. There is no harm under ordinary conditions in asking a boy with a pleasant voice to sing a song in the night, but the case is altered altogether if you have reason to suppose that a Red Indian is lying in wait a hundred yards off, holding a loaded rifle and ready to fire at the voice. It is a valid³ objection to many actions that I do not think objectionable in themselves, that to do them will discharge a loaded prejudice into the heart of my friend — or even into my own. I belong to the world and my work, and I must not lightly throw my time, my power, my influence away. For a splendid thing any risk or any defiance⁴ may be justifiable⁵, but is it a sufficiently⁶ splendid thing? So far as he possibly can a man must conform to common prejudices, prevalent customs and all laws, whatever his estimate of them may be. But he must at the same time to his utmost to change what he thinks to be wrong.

And I think that conformity⁷ must be honest conformity. There is no more anti-social act than secret breaches⁸, and only some very urgent and exceptional occasion justifies¹⁰ even the unveracity of silence about the thing done. If your personal convictions bring you to a breach⁹, let it be an open breach, let there be no misrepresentation of attitudes, no meanness, no

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1 permissible
adj.可允许的，许可的
参考例句：
Is smoking permissible in the theatre?在剧院里允许吸烟吗？ Delay is not permissible,even for a single day.不得延误，即使一日亦不可。

2 mischievous
adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的
参考例句：
He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。 A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。

3 valid
adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的
参考例句：
His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。 Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

4 defiance
n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗
参考例句：
He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。 He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

5 justifiable
adj.有理由的，无可非议的
参考例句：
What he has done is hardly justifiable.他的所作所为说不过去。 Justifiable defense is the act being exempted from crimes.正当防卫不属于犯罪行为。

6 sufficiently
adv.足够地，充分地
参考例句：
It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。 The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

7 conformity
n.一致，遵从，顺从
参考例句：
Was his action in conformity with the law?他的行动是否合法？ The plan was made in conformity with his views.计划仍按他的意见制定。

8 breaches
破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背
参考例句：
He imposed heavy penalties for breaches of oath or pledges. 他对违反誓言和保证的行为给予严厉的惩罚。 This renders all breaches of morality before marriage very uncommon. 这样一来，婚前败坏道德的事就少见了。

9 breach
n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破
参考例句：
We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。 He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

10 justifies
证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护）
参考例句：
Their frequency of use both justifies and requires the memorization. 频繁的使用需要记忆，也促进了记忆。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓 In my judgement the present end justifies the means. 照我的意见，只要目的正当，手段是可以不计较的。

11 deception
n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计
参考例句：
He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。 He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

12 honourable
adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的
参考例句：
I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。 I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

13 concealment
n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒
参考例句：
the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒 Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

14 aggression
n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害
参考例句：
So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。 Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

15 condone
v.宽恕；原谅
参考例句：
I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。 I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。

16 intrigue
vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋
参考例句：
Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。 The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。

17 illuminate
vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释
参考例句：
Dreams kindle a flame to illuminate our dark roads.梦想点燃火炬照亮我们黑暗的道路。 They use games and drawings to illuminate their subject.他们用游戏和图画来阐明他们的主题。

18 contraband
n.违禁品，走私品
参考例句：
Most of the city markets were flooded with contraband goods.大多数的城市市场上都充斥着走私货。 The customs officers rummaged the ship suspected to have contraband goods.海关人员仔细搜查了一艘有走私嫌疑的海轮。