“Wherever a Knave is not punished, an honest Man is laugh'd at.”

I don't know if Savile's reference to Knave was specifically to an individual of a lower cast or, in general, denoting an unprincipled crafty fellow but, neither addresses an honest Man. Honesty is its own reward. Those unprincipled that laugh at honest men should be ignored or dealt with appropriately. I gave the quote 1 star in the most remote of chance that Savile was attempting to restate 'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing'; or, 'no good deed goes unpunished'.

Mike, I don't think Edmund Burke would quite agree with you, though I give you the benefit of the doubt as you did say "remotely". Savile's quote leaves the door open - I believe he was referring (Knave) to your latter reference. If man is honest and does nothing when he sees injustice, does he remain an honest man? What exactly is an honest man? Very few, and I mean very few, can say with all honesty they are a hundred percent honest all the time. At what moment should or shouldn't we be honest and who would be the arbiter?

knave: rogue; a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel.

If all the Knaves in Congress were Imprisoned,there would be a lot of empty seats in that august body.

The honest man corrects the dishonest fellow so he has someone to laugh with.