Evil Quote by Arno Gruen
“We would rather forgive the evil proliferating all around us than the rebellion against it, which we mistake for the true evil.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Betrayal of the Self, 1974
People prefer to forgive abstract evil over confronting personal rebellion, mistakenly labeling the latter as true evil.
In simple terms: We forgive distant evil, not personal dissent.
Key Takeaway
Question what we label as evil.
Themes
psychology
politics
self‑deception
Mood
critical
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal accountability
- counseling
Key Concepts
moral judgment
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we fear internal rebellion?
- How can we differentiate true evil from fear?
A Different Perspective
It can be dangerous to dismiss personal dissent as evil.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
