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That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to…

“That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.” quote by John Fowles
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“That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.”

John Fowles

About This Quote

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

Moral failure lies not in a single evil act but in the collective lack of courage to do good.

In simple terms: Many people fail to act good, not just one evil.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal courage to act ethically.

Themes

morality courage collective responsibility

Mood

somber inspirational

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • workplace decisions
  • community service
  • political activism

Key Concepts

ethical philosophy social psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What prevents you from doing good?
  • How can societies encourage moral courage?
A Different Perspective

The statement may ignore systemic factors that limit courage.

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