The wicked know that if the ill they do be of sufficient…
““The wicked know that if the ill they do be of sufficient horror that men will not speak against it. That men have just enough stomach for small evils and only these will they oppose.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People tolerate minor evils because they are less shocking, while horrific acts become socially silenced, revealing a collective moral threshold.
In simple terms: We ignore small evils, silence big ones.
Key Takeaway
Societal tolerance skews toward minor wrongs.
Themes
morality
social psychology
evil
courage
Mood
analytical
somber
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- whistleblowing dilemmas
- public reaction to scandals
- media coverage choices
Key Concepts
cognitive dissonance
moral fatigue
Practical Applications
- encourage reporting of all harms
- educate on moral consistency
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we rationalize small harms?
- What makes us speak against great evils?