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> However, I don't think it's fair to vilify him in the present day and discredit the results.

I'm with you for the second part, I think the results can be looked at independently. However, I don't think one good deed should excuse past bad behavior and one should be careful about glorifying someone to the extent that we ignore their misdeeds.

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> However, I don't think one good deed should excuse past bad behavior and one should be careful about glorifying someone to the extent that we ignore their misdeeds.

I disagree. What you say is true in a lot of cases [1], but you're devaluing personal growth way too much. This guy's "one good deed" was a drastic and radical break with his misdeed of overpaying himself. He deserves all the glory he can get for that.

[1] For instance: a businessman who spent his life exploiting thousands to make himself rich, who then engages in some half-ass charity at the end of his life.

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