Idiom
Faustian dilemma
Meaning
Having to choose between an option that promises short-term gain with foreseeable adverse long-term consequences, and an alternative option with no short-term gain and possibly even short-term suffering, but promising an eventually better future than the first option.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He faces a Faustian dilemma between quick money and his long-term career.”
“She faces a Faustian dilemma between a high salary and her personal values.”
“Buying a cheap, low-quality car is often a Faustian dilemma for new drivers.”
“The politician faced a Faustian dilemma: accept illegal campaign funding for an easy win or lose the election by staying honest.”
“The athlete faced a Faustian dilemma when he considered taking performance drugs to win the championship, knowing they would eventually ruin his health.”
“The city council deals with a Faustian dilemma by choosing between immediate industrial growth and the long-term protection of the local water supply.”
“The scientist grappled with a Faustian dilemma, knowing that releasing the unproven technology would solve the energy crisis while risking irreversible environmental damage.”
Examples
simple
“He faces a Faustian dilemma between quick money and his long-term career.”
“She faces a Faustian dilemma between a high salary and her personal values.”
“Buying a cheap, low-quality car is often a Faustian dilemma for new drivers.”
contextual
“The politician faced a Faustian dilemma: accept illegal campaign funding for an easy win or lose the election by staying honest.”
“The athlete faced a Faustian dilemma when he considered taking performance drugs to win the championship, knowing they would eventually ruin his health.”
“The city council deals with a Faustian dilemma by choosing between immediate industrial growth and the long-term protection of the local water supply.”
complex
“The scientist grappled with a Faustian dilemma, knowing that releasing the unproven technology would solve the energy crisis while risking irreversible environmental damage.”
Key words
Related idioms
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