Acts of evil Quote by Ayn Rand
“Whatever may be open to disagreement, there is one act of evil that may not, the act that no man may commit against others and no man may sanction or forgive. So long as men desire to live together, no man may initiate—do you hear me? no man may start—the use of physical force against others.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Virtue of Self‑Interest", 1971
Violence against others is the ultimate evil; societies must reject initiating force
In simple terms: Physical force is immoral; avoid initiating violence
Key Takeaway
Promote non‑violent conflict resolution
Themes
ethics
politics
violence
Mood
serious
philosophical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal systems
- community governance
- peace negotiations
Key Concepts
non‑aggression principle
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How should societies handle self‑defense?
- Can non‑violence be absolute?
A Different Perspective
Enforcing non‑aggression can be complex in self‑defense
