--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a true weakness in American…" description: "\"There is a true weakness in American thought today: their incapacity to be interested in the intelligence of evil.\" — Bernard-Henri Levy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg" --- # There is a true weakness in American thought today: their… ![“There is a true weakness in American thought today: their incapacity to be interested in the intelligence of evil.” quote by Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg) > “There is a true weakness in American thought today: their incapacity to be interested in the intelligence of evil.” [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American discourse often ignores the intellectual depth of evil, limiting understanding and response. **In simple terms:** People avoid studying evil’s mind. Key Takeaway Explore uncomfortable ideas. Themes intellectual curiosity political critique morality Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - academic research - media commentary Key Concepts philosophy psychology cultural analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does ignoring evil’s intelligence affect policy? - What can we learn from studying malicious motives? A Different Perspective Focusing only on good can blind us to real threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Power belongs to the intelligence of evil. It's totally unreflective, like Donald Trump. It belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-wilson/power-belongs-to-the-intelligence-of-evil-it-s-totally-unreflective/) [Cody Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-wilson/) > [Calling Trump 'Putin's puppet' is a sign of the weakness of the American political system. It appears so weak and fragile that outsiders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/calling-trump-putin-s-puppet-is-a-sign-of-the-weakness-of-the/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [My weakness is 'American Idol.' My husband thinks it's ridiculous. But I am so inspired by those young people who are singing their guts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gordon/my-weakness-is-american-idol-my-husband-thinks-it-s-ridiculous-but-i/) [Mary Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gordon/) > [Find your true weakness and surrender to it. Therein lies the path to genius. Most people spend their lives using their strengths to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-feldenkrais/find-your-true-weakness-and-surrender-to-it-therein-lies-the-path-to/) [Moshe Feldenkrais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-feldenkrais/) > [“True weakness is weakness of the spirit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/true-weakness-is-weakness-of-the-spirit/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [“Perhaps true weakness is weakness of the spirit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/perhaps-true-weakness-is-weakness-of-the-spirit/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [“American thought and American politics will be largely at the mercy of those who operate these stations, for publicity is the most powerful weapon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/american-thought-and-american-politics-will-be-largely-at-the-mercy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God forbid that the day should ever come when, in the American mind, the thought of man as a consumer shall submerge the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/god-forbid-that-the-day-should-ever-come-when-in-the-american-mind/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [“The twentieth century will be American. American thought will dominate it. American progress will give it color and direction. American deeds will make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/the-twentieth-century-will-be-american-american-thought-will-dominate/) [John dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [“So in the twentieth century, there’s a major current of American thought―in fact, it’s probably the dominant current among people who think about these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/so-in-the-twentieth-century-there-s-a-major-current-of-american/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's a tendency in American thought - maybe elsewhere, but that's the culture I know best - to default to social Darwinism, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/there-s-a-tendency-in-american-thought-maybe-elsewhere-but-that-s-the/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [Humanity is not perfect in any fashion; no more in the case of evil than in that of good. The criminal has his virtues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/humanity-is-not-perfect-in-any-fashion-no-more-in-the-case-of-evil/) [Pierre Choderlos de Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [“Those who know what's wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/those-who-know-what-s-wrong-with-them-and-take-care-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) ## More by Bernard-Henri Levy > [In general, Europeans need to get a wider perspective on the problem of Islamism. Even if the Israel-Palestine question were solved - and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/in-general-europeans-need-to-get-a-wider-perspective-on-the-problem/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [“There is a gentleness, a lightness, an element of freedom and, in a word, of civilization, that makes this country one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/there-is-a-gentleness-a-lightness-an-element-of-freedom-and-in-a-word/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [For me, dressing is always a question of principle, respect, a sense of order, not to disguise myself, even in rotten places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/for-me-dressing-is-always-a-question-of-principle-respect-a-sense-of/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I would hope that Europe always has a privileged relationship with the United States. The alternatives are not attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/i-would-hope-that-europe-always-has-a-privileged-relationship-with/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I really like the United State, its relationship to space and time, its interest in mobility, its cosmopolitanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/i-really-like-the-united-state-its-relationship-to-space-and-time-its/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [Why should an intellectual have to renounce the pleasures of life? I am not a hermit. I am a man of flesh and blood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/why-should-an-intellectual-have-to-renounce-the-pleasures-of-life-i/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [The Left is my family. And it is threatened by terrible demons, like differentialism. "differentialist Left" are people who have learned nothing about tolerance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/the-left-is-my-family-and-it-is-threatened-by-terrible-demons-like/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I work even when I am on vacation. You know that line by Stéphane Mallarmé, "All earthly existence must ultimately be contained in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/i-work-even-when-i-am-on-vacation-you-know-that-line-by-st-phane/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [America creates myths by focusing a lot of energy on its history and using it - - not always, but sometimes - for constructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/america-creates-myths-by-focusing-a-lot-of-energy-on-its-history-and/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [The terrorists exist, and I think we must speak to them, not to establish a dialogue-since for serious terrorists that is unfortunately out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/the-terrorists-exist-and-i-think-we-must-speak-to-them-not-to/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [Islamic terrorists are new examples of an old problem with fascism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/islamic-terrorists-are-new-examples-of-an-old-problem-with-fascism/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [The conservatives want to revolutionize the world all at once. And that's a dangerous proposal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/the-conservatives-want-to-revolutionize-the-world-all-at-once-and/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I reject the idea that there is some sort of existential "clash of civilizations." I am an interventionist, but not a militarist. War should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/i-reject-the-idea-that-there-is-some-sort-of-existential-clash-of/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [You can be horrified by the state of the prisons, the misery in certain neighborhoods of its cities, or their level of poverty. Anti-Americanism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/you-can-be-horrified-by-the-state-of-the-prisons-the-misery-in/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I am 60, and I am as much an internationalist as when I was younger, when I was a Marxist-Leninist. Internationalism is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/i-am-60-and-i-am-as-much-an-internationalist-as-when-i-was-younger/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) [Explore all 33 Bernard-Henri Levy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) ## 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 > [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": "There is a true weakness in American thought today: their incapacity to be interested in the intelligence of evil.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernard-Henri Levy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-thought-today-their-incapacity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-thought-today-their-incapacity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bernard-henri-levy-12682_evil_there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-tho_2792745.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a true weakness in American thought today: their incapacity to be interested in the intelligence of…” — Bernard-Henri Levy", "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": "Bernard-Henri Levy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a true weakness in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-thought-today-their-incapacity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/there-is-a-true-weakness-in-american-thought-today-their-incapacity/#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 } } ] } ```