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The Firm of Nucingen
The Firm of Nucingen

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Firm of Nucingen
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.
Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.
See what comes of philanthropy!
“A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.
An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Firm of Nucingen

Chapter VII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.
Line 2
Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.
Line 3
See what comes of philanthropy!
Line 4
“A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.
Line 5
An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Conscience noun US /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading ““A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.”

Honest adjective US /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading “An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading ““But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading ““But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading ““A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading ““A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.”

All words in this reading · 73

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

abstract

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

bad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

banks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

bred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

classes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

comes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See what comes of philanthropy!

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

criminal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

danger

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

demoralization

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

dreaded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

education

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

feelings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

helm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

inoculating

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

love

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

means

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

nation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

people

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

philanthropy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See what comes of philanthropy!

pilot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

politician

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

questions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

reason

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

restrained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

Savings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

schemes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

See

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See what comes of philanthropy!

seems

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

self-interest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

steam-engine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.

steersman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

tacitly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

vices

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading See what comes of philanthropy!

widespread

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “But this danger, however great it may be, seems to me less to be dreaded than the widespread demoralization.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Savings banks are a means of inoculating the people, the classes least restrained by education or by reason from schemes that are tacitly criminal, with the vices bred of self-interest.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “A great politician ought to be without a conscience in abstract questions, or he is a bad steersman for a nation.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading An honest politician is a steam-engine with feelings, a pilot that would make love at the helm and let the ship go down.