Faustian bargain

Cultural  

1. Faust, in the legend, traded his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge. To “strike a Faustian bargain” is to be willing to sacrifice anything to satisfy a limitless desire for knowledge or power.

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Example Sentences

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Faustian bargain

OpenAI considers a Faustian bargain with the U.S. government.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Of equal concern is the Faustian bargain made by physicians to give up control of their practices in exchange for working fewer hours.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2023

It’s a clever parody of the Faustian bargain we’ve made with social media, relinquishing our privacy for access to the comments, likes and images of others.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 29, 2022

But critics warn that captive breeding is a Faustian bargain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2021

The Faustian bargain between humans and grains was not the only deal our species made.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari