--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would…" description: "\"The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished if men could only learn to sit quietly in their rooms.\" — Aldous Huxley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg" --- # The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished… ![“The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished if men could only learn to sit quietly in their rooms.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg) > “The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished if men could only learn to sit quietly in their rooms.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quiet contemplation reduces evil by fostering inner peace and self‑control. **In simple terms:** Silence lessens evil. Key Takeaway Practice regular quiet reflection. Themes inner peace evil mindfulness Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can silence be paired with action? - What practices support inner calm? A Different Perspective Silence alone may not stop external harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diminished Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diminished-men-2529081/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-pascal-2529082/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pascal/) [Pascal Remarked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pascal-remarked-2529080/) [Quietly Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quietly-rooms-2529079/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Sit Quietly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-quietly/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The sole cause of all human misery is the inability of people to sit quietly in their rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-sole-cause-of-all-human-misery-is-the-inability-of-people-to-sit/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [If you can sit quietly after difficult news; if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm; if you can see your neighbors travel to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/if-you-can-sit-quietly-after-difficult-news-if-in-financial-downturns/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-can-either-waltz-boldly-onto-the-stage-of-life-and-live-the-way/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“When you are able to sit quietly and allow all the world to go about it’s business without your interaction, comment or opinion, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carlyle/when-you-are-able-to-sit-quietly-and-allow-all-the-world-to-go-about/) [David Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carlyle/) > [It's amazing what you can see when you just sit quietly and look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-kelly/it-s-amazing-what-you-can-see-when-you-just-sit-quietly-and-look/) [Jacqueline Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-kelly/) > [“I might have learned one thing. When people are hurting and in pain, when they are in the depths of the valley, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dikes/i-might-have-learned-one-thing-when-people-are-hurting-and-in-pain/) [Chris Dikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dikes/) > [To escape and sit quietly on the beach - that's my idea of paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-wickstead/to-escape-and-sit-quietly-on-the-beach-that-s-my-idea-of-paradise/) [Emilia Wickstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-wickstead/) > [“Most unhappiness comes from not being able to sit quietly in a room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/most-unhappiness-comes-from-not-being-able-to-sit-quietly-in-a-room/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“The process of becoming is not of doing but simply an act of observing. The internal process has been designed in such a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshan-sharma/the-process-of-becoming-is-not-of-doing-but-simply-an-act-of/) [Roshan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshan-sharma/) > [You don't gossip while your man is driving. You sit there quietly until you're about 5 minutes from your destination then you say, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/you-don-t-gossip-while-your-man-is-driving-you-sit-there-quietly/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [At the dinner table, if you can't think of anything to say, sit quietly. Don't throw rolls, or chew on your napkin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/at-the-dinner-table-if-you-can-t-think-of-anything-to-say-sit-quietly/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“He did not suggest that she sit quietly and get to know herself so she could be all the company she needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-did-not-suggest-that-she-sit-quietly-and-get-to-know-herself-so/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Sometimes people don’t have to say or do anything weird. They just sit there, quietly sipping tea, all the while putting out an ultrasonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baker/sometimes-people-don-t-have-to-say-or-do-anything-weird-they-just-sit/) [Adam Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baker/) > [“Pascal said: “One-half of the ills of life come because men are unwilling to sit down quietly for thirty minutes to think through all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lettie-b-cowman/pascal-said-one-half-of-the-ills-of-life-come-because-men-are/) [Lettie B. Cowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lettie-b-cowman/) > [I think maybe we should just sit here quietly now, not say anything and let you just kinda contemplate on the news I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-think-maybe-we-should-just-sit-here-quietly-now-not-say-anything/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished if men could only learn to sit quietly in their rooms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Huxley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be-much-diminished-if-men-could/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be-much-diminished-if-men-could/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/aldous-huxley-97_evil_the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be_1864063.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sum of evil, Pascal remarked, would be much diminished if men could only learn to sit quietly in their…” — Aldous Huxley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aldous Huxley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The sum of evil, Pascal remarked,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be-much-diminished-if-men-could/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-sum-of-evil-pascal-remarked-would-be-much-diminished-if-men-could/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```