Is it your implication that no good will come of this expedition?’‘ Oh it will, sir; there’s no denying that.’ Captain Chillingworth’s words emerged very slowly, as if they had been pulled up from a deep well of bitterness. ‘I am sure it will do a great deal of good for some of us. But I doubt I’ll be of that number, or that many Chinamen will. The truth is, sir, that men do what their power permits them to do. We are no different from the Pharaohs or the Mongols: the difference is only that when we kill people we feel compelled to pretend that it is for some higher cause. It is this pretence of virtue, I promise you, that will never be forgiven by history. Amitav Ghosh
About This Quote

When Captain Chillingworth says to Mr. Dimmesdale, "It will do a great deal of good for some of us," he is saying that there is no doubt that the journey to the island will do a good deal of good for some people. However, he is also saying that he doubts that he or many other members of the company will be one of those who benefit from the journey. He feels as if they are no better than those who hurt people because they feel as if they must pretend to be virtuous.

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