Faustian pact
Damnation for gain
A Faustian pact is a deal in which someone trades something precious—typically their soul, integrity, or long-term wellbeing—for immediate gain.
The term comes from the legend of Faust, a scholar who sold his soul to the devil for knowledge and worldly pleasures.
The phrase implies the bargain will ultimately prove ruinous: He made a Faustian pact with the tabloids, trading his privacy for fame.
- deal with the devilUnholy exchange for advantage
- UtilitarianismEthics maximizing overall wellbeing
- MephistophelesSoul-bargaining demon
- Pandora's boxSource of cascading troubles
- bloodBody's oxygen carrier
quill · contract · signature · oath · seal · ink · parchment · Robert Johnson · eternal damnation · moral compromise · whisper · handshake · shadow · candle · eternal youth · flame · forbidden knowledge · temptation
Faustian pactdivine covenant
God's promise to mankind
sacred vow · baptismal vows · marriage covenant · blessing · sacrament
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