--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order for men to do great evil, they…" description: "\"“In order for men to do great evil, they must first believe they are doing good\".”\" — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-671_doing-good_in-order-for-men-to-do-great-evil-they-m_979348.jpg" --- # In order for men to do great evil, they must first believe… ![“In order for men to do great evil, they must first believe they are doing good".” quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-671_doing-good_in-order-for-men-to-do-great-evil-they-m_979348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-671_doing-good_in-order-for-men-to-do-great-evil-they-m_979348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-671_doing-good_in-order-for-men-to-do-great-evil-they-m_979348.jpg) > ““In order for men to do great evil, they must first believe they are doing good".”” [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great evil is often justified by the belief that it serves a good purpose. **In simple terms:** Evil actions are rationalized as good. Key Takeaway Question moral justifications before acting. Themes morality evil justification Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political movements - military actions - corporate decisions - social policies Key Concepts political philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What criteria determine whether an action is truly beneficial? - How can we guard against self‑deception in moral reasoning? A Different Perspective Good intentions can mask harmful outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ## Related quotes > [To do evil a human being must first of all believe that what he's doing is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/to-do-evil-a-human-being-must-first-of-all-believe-that-what-he-s-4/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Even people that are evil believe what they're doing is good. I don't agree with those people, but it's about understanding that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masi-oka/even-people-that-are-evil-believe-what-they-re-doing-is-good-i-don-t/) [Masi Oka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masi-oka/) > [I believe in doing good for good's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/i-believe-in-doing-good-for-good-s-sake/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“It was granted me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-granted-me-to-carry-away-from-my-prison-years-on-my-bent-back/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [There are two great forces, God's force of good and the devil's force of evil, and I believe Satan is alive and he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/there-are-two-great-forces-god-s-force-of-good-and-the-devil-s-force/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Selfishness is the root of great evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/selfishness-is-the-root-of-great-evil/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Some people misunderstand evil and believe it will relent, and because their misplaced hope inspires dark hearts to dream darker dreams, they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/some-people-misunderstand-evil-and-believe-it-will-relent-and-because/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Unfortunately, evil will never be wholly defeated.Mankind is faced with a continual struggle against evil. We believe that this is where the meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alija-izetbegovic/unfortunately-evil-will-never-be-wholly-defeated-mankind-is-faced/) [Alija Izetbegović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alija-izetbegovic/) > [“believe some people are inherently evil. I believe guilt is a powerful motivator. 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If I am playing evil, believe me, I am bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/you-have-got-to-dig-deep-into-your-own-spectrum-while-playing-a/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-am-in-politics-because-of-the-conflict-between-good-and-evil-and-i/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## More by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn > [If you wanted to put the world to rights, who should you begin with: yourself or others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-you-wanted-to-put-the-world-to-rights-who-should-you-begin-with/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“...you are strong only as long as you don't deprive people of everything . For a person you've taken everything from is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/you-are-strong-only-as-long-as-you-don-t-deprive-people-of-everything/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Woe to that nation whose literature is cut short by the intrusion of force. 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Some things lead us into a realm beyond words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/not-everything-has-a-name-some-things-lead-us-into-a-realm-beyond/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [It is almost always impossible to evaluate at the time events which you have already experienced, and to understand their meaning with the guidance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-is-almost-always-impossible-to-evaluate-at-the-time-events-which/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Human nature is full of riddles; . . . one of those riddles is: how is it that people who have been crushed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/human-nature-is-full-of-riddles-one-of-those-riddles-is-how-is-it/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“It was astonishing that the pseudo wreckers, who knew perfectly well that they weren't wreckers, believed that military men and priests were being shaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-astonishing-that-the-pseudo-wreckers-who-knew-perfectly-well/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [When the whole discussion of "developing a national idea" hastily began in post-Soviet Russia, I tried to pour cold water on it with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/when-the-whole-discussion-of-developing-a-national-idea-hastily-began/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“It was granted me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-granted-me-to-carry-away-from-my-prison-years-on-my-bent-back/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Call no day happy 'til it is done; call no man happy til he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/call-no-day-happy-til-it-is-done-call-no-man-happy-til-he-is-dead/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes a person's noblest impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/whenever-the-tissue-of-life-is-woven-of-legalistic-relationships-this/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [The same old caveman feeling-greed, envy, violence, and mutual hate, which along the way assumed respectable pseudonyms like class struggle, racial struggle, mass struggle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/the-same-old-caveman-feeling-greed-envy-violence-and-mutual-hate/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Surrender one hair, and you'll end up beardless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/surrender-one-hair-and-you-ll-end-up-beardless/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) [Explore all 412 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) ## More Doing good quotes > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. 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Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harr/rich-and-famous-and-doing-good-mused-schlichtmann-rich-isn-t-so/) Jonathan Harr > [There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-only-one-way-of-not-hating-those-who-do-us-wrong-and-that-is/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Being a good person is appreciable. 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