Betrayal

breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence

Betrayal (or treachery) is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the others. Someone who betrays others is commonly called a traitor or betrayer. Betrayal is also a commonly used literary element and is often associated with or used as a plot twist.

Quotes

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  • Any form of real betrayal can be final. Dishonesty can be final. Selling out is final. But you are just talking now. Death is what is really final.
  • Look. What happened, that was just business. Personal betrayal I can understand. But never betrayal of one’s people you serve, or your country.
  • Just for the record, the weather today is partly suspicious with chances of betrayal.
  • On this tenth day of June, 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt, noting Italy's declaration of war against France on that day, during the commencement address at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville (June 10, 1940); reported in The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1940 (1941), p. 263.
  • I am in blood
    Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more,
    Returning were as tedious as go o'er.
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  •   Encyclopedic article on Betrayal on Wikipedia
  •   The dictionary definition of betrayal on Wiktionary