Faustian Bargain
A deal that gives you what you want now at the cost of something you'll regret losing later โ typically your soul, or its modern equivalents.
Origin
From the German legend of Doctor Faust, made famous by Christopher Marlowe (Doctor Faustus, c. 1592) and Goethe (Faust, 1808โ1832). A brilliant scholar sells his soul to the demon Mephistopheles in exchange for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasure for a fixed term. The term ends; Mephistopheles collects.
Modern usage
Used constantly in political, technological, and ethical commentary โ accepting authoritarian support to win an election, taking VC money on aggressive terms, building a product on someone else's platform. Anything where the price is delayed and personal.
In the wild
Selling the company to that buyer was a Faustian bargain โ they got rich, and the product died.โ tech press
Tags
Related
Greek Mythology
Pandora's Box
An action that, once taken, releases problems that cannot be put back.
Modern Mythology
The One Ring
Power that corrupts everyone who tries to use it, no matter their intentions.
Biblical & Christian
Forbidden Fruit
Something tempting precisely because it is off-limits.