You can't call something strange or shameful in one person if it's how everyone in his culture acts. The examples I just gave are only defended by the customs of one remote part of the world. But look — there are far worse crimes that deserve more forgiveness because they're found everywhere among all people. We're all quick to anger and careless. We're all untrustworthy, never satisfied, and hungry for power. Why am I trying to soften our shared wickedness with gentle words? We're all bad. Every one of us will find in our own heart the same flaw we criticize in others.
You cannot call anything peculiar or disgraceful in a particular man if it is the general characteristic of his nation. Now, the cases which I have quoted are defended only by the usage of one out-of-the-way quarter of the world: see now, how far more deserving of pardon those crimes are which are spread abroad among all mankind. We all are hasty and careless, we all are untrustworthy, dissatisfied, and ambitious: nay, why do I try to hide our common wickedness by a too partial description? we all are bad. Every one of us therefore will find in his own breast the vice which he blames in another.