Good and evil Quote by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
““Evidently, evildoing also has a threshold magnitude. Yes, a human being hesitates and bobs back and forth between good and evil all his life. He slips, falls back, clambers up, repents, things begin to darken again. But just so long as the threshold of evildoing is not crossed, the possibility of returning remains, and he himself is still within reach of our hope. But when, through the density of evil actions, the result either of their own extreme danger or of the absoluteness of his power, he suddenly crosses that threshold, he has left humanity behind, and without, perhaps, the possibility of return.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gulag Archipelago, 1973
Describes a moral threshold where repeated evil acts can push a person beyond redemption, ending hope of return.
In simple terms: Crossing a moral line can end hope of redemption.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and avoid crossing ethical thresholds.
Themes
morality
redemption
human nature
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political oppression
- personal conscience
- justice systems
Key Concepts
threshold theory
ethical decay
hope
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions constitute crossing the threshold?
- Can redemption be possible after extreme evil?
A Different Perspective
Hope may persist even after severe wrongdoing.
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