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He who assists a poor or needy villain does evil to his…

“He who assists a poor or needy villain does evil to his neighbor...for through the assistance which he renders he...supplies him with the means of doing evil to others.” quote by Emanuel Swedenborg
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“He who assists a poor or needy villain does evil to his neighbor...for through the assistance which he renders he...supplies him with the means of doing evil to others.”

Emanuel Swedenborg

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Warns that helping a malicious person enables further harm to others.

In simple terms: Assisting evil spreads more evil.

Key Takeaway

Avoid aiding those with harmful intent.

Themes

ethics responsibility evil

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • charitable work
  • business partnerships
  • political alliances
  • community projects

Key Concepts

moral philosophy consequentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is it justified to help someone with questionable motives?
  • How can we assess potential downstream harm?
A Different Perspective

Distinguishing intent can be complex.

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