Faustian Bargain

A former English teacher, I have always assumed that people understand what the phrase "Faustian Bargain" means. Perhaps I've assumed too much. From wikipedia:

Faustian bargain (plural Faustian bargains)

1. (idiomatic) An agreement in which a person abandons his or her spiritual values or moral principles in order to obtain wealth or other benefits.

   The expulsion of the competent and the abandonment of founding values in exchange for a boost in the university's Satanic social status was a Faustian bargain.

2. (idiomatic) A deal in which one focuses on present gain without considering the long term consequences. quotations ▼

Synonyms[edit]

• deal with the devil

Always remember, Faust initially thought the deal was worth making only to later find out, as Dick Armey so famously stated, "When you make a deal with the devil, you become the junior partner." Let's all try to remember this the next time we are asked to compromise our moral compass for an immediate benefit.