In the twentieth century, men -- all of us -- find…
“In the twentieth century, men -- all of us -- find themselves compelled to commit or condone evil for the sake of preventing an evil believed to be greater. And the tragedy is that we do not know whether the evil we condone will not in the end be greater than the evil we seek to avert-- or be identified with.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People may justify harmful actions to prevent a perceived greater evil, yet outcomes are uncertain.
In simple terms: We sometimes do bad to avoid worse, but it's unclear.
Key Takeaway
Question moral assumptions before acting.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
danger
human behavior
decision making
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political policy
- wartime decisions
- personal choices
- social movements
Key Concepts
Moral paradox
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it justified to compromise values?
- How do we evaluate unknown consequences?
A Different Perspective
Predicting outcomes is impossible, leading to moral ambiguity.