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And now tell me, why is it that you use me words "good…

“And now tell me, why is it that you use me words "good people" all the time? Do you call everyone that, or what? - Everyone, - the prisoner replied. - There are no evil people in the world. (- А теперь скажи мне, что это ты все время употребляешь слова добрые люди"? Ты всех, что ли, так называешь?…” quote by Mikhail Bulgakov
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““And now tell me, why is it that you use me words "good people" all the time? Do you call everyone that, or what? - Everyone, - the prisoner replied. - There are no evil people in the world. (- А теперь скажи мне, что это ты все время употребляешь слова добрые люди"? Ты всех, что ли, так называешь? - Всех, - ответил арестант, - злых людей нет на свете.)””

Mikhail Bulgakov

About This Quote

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

The dialogue questions that language labels like “good people” are vague, and that evil is not a fixed category but a perception shaped by context.

In simple terms: Labels hide complexity; evil is not absolute.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about moral labels.

Themes

morality language perception

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • justice debates
  • ethical discussions
  • education
  • media analysis

Key Concepts

philosophy literature social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you think people can be inherently good or evil?
  • How do labels affect our judgments?
A Different Perspective

Some argue that certain actions are inherently evil, challenging the relativistic view.

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