depraving

If affection lead a man to favor the less worthy in desert, let him do it, without depraving or disabling the better deserver.

The Essays 2007

Voltairean allegations as to the depraving effects of the existing system of religion had really been.

Voltaire 2007

The object of his assault was that amalgam of metaphysical subtleties, degrading legends, false miracles, and narrow depraving conceptions of divine government which made the starting-point and vantage-ground of those ecclesiastical oppressors, whom he habitually and justly designated the enemies of the human race.

Voltaire 2007

Both utterly heartless, both men upon town, both thoroughly initiated in its worst vices, both deeply in debt, both fallen from some higher estate, both addicted to every depravity for which society can find some genteel name and plead its most depraving conventionalities as an excuse, they were naturally gentlemen of most unblemished honour themselves, and of great nicety concerning the honour of other people.

Nicholas Nickleby 2007

“Just as if a problem had been set to find the best, the surest means of depraving the greatest number of persons,” thought Nekhludoff, while investigating the deeds that were being done in the prisons and halting stations.

Resurrection 2003

Truth is the only basis of virtue; and we cannot, without depraving our minds, endeavour to please a lover or husband, but in proportion as he pleases us.

Maria; or The Wrongs of Woman 2002

For every one of these men, being altogether of a perverse disposition, depraving the system of truth, is not ashamed to preach himself.

ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus 1819-1893 2001

To bear with the vices of the ministry is to promote the ruin of the Church; for what speedier way is there for the depraving and undoing of the people, than the depravity of their guides?

The Reformed Pastor 1615-1691 1974

But yet as there was none of those but, one way or other, was eminently conducing to the carrying on of the mystery of iniquity, by depraving, perverting, and corrupting, one truth or other of the gospel, so all of them did not in all things equally corrupt their ways, but gave some testimony more or less to some truths, as they received them from those that went before them.

The Doctrine of the Saints��� Perseverance Explained and Confirmed 1616-1683 1966

The traffic which is thus carried on from state to state, is fruitful of evil consequences, not only depraving the minds of those engaged in it, but producing the most cruel separation of near connexions, and depriving its victims of almost every incentive to conjugal fidelity or correctness of conduct.

The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921 Various