--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ideas and principles that do harm are as…" description: "\"Ideas and principles that do harm are as a rule, though not always, cloaks for evil passions.\" — Bertrand Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/bertrand-russell-69_cloaks_ideas-and-principles-that-do-harm-are-as_521908.jpg" --- # Ideas and principles that do harm are as a rule, though… ![“Ideas and principles that do harm are as a rule, though not always, cloaks for evil passions.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/bertrand-russell-69_cloaks_ideas-and-principles-that-do-harm-are-as_521908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/bertrand-russell-69_cloaks_ideas-and-principles-that-do-harm-are-as_521908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/bertrand-russell-69_cloaks_ideas-and-principles-that-do-harm-are-as_521908.jpg) > “Ideas and principles that do harm are as a rule, though not always, cloaks for evil passions.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Harmful ideas often hide behind seemingly neutral principles, masking selfish motives. **In simple terms:** Bad ideas can disguise evil intentions. Key Takeaway Question motives behind ideas. Themes ethics politics psychology Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - policy making - media analysis - personal relationships Key Concepts moral philosophy cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What principles do you accept without scrutiny? - How can you detect hidden agendas? A Different Perspective Not all principles are harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cloaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloaks/) [Cloaks Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloaks-evil-4402078/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-passions-461761/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harm Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-rule-4402077/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-principles-1426131/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-harm-4402076/) ## Related quotes > [“I realize that “Do No Harm” is the first rule of medicine, but “Don’t apply human shit to an open wound” seems like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/i-realize-that-do-no-harm-is-the-first-rule-of-medicine-but-don-t/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) > [The ideas and principles of democracy should not be limited to politics, but must pervade all areas of social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-kreisky/the-ideas-and-principles-of-democracy-should-not-be-limited-to/) [Bruno Kreisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-kreisky/) > [In truth, ideas and principles are independent of men; the application of them and their illustration is man's duty and merit. The time will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-forbes/in-truth-ideas-and-principles-are-independent-of-men-the-application/) [Edward Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-forbes/) > [“And so the good man ought to be Self-loving: because by doing what is noble he will have advantage himself and will do good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/and-so-the-good-man-ought-to-be-self-loving-because-by-doing-what-is/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [There is one antidote for evil passions: the purification of our souls which takes place through the mystery of godliness. The chief act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/there-is-one-antidote-for-evil-passions-the-purification-of-our-souls/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [I will not ever change my principles. I will not do it. We have a 'how.' 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The groan of a floorboard as he slipped out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/the-night-breathed-through-the-apartment-like-a-dark-animal-the/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The craftiest trickery are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-craftiest-trickery-are-too-short-and-ragged-a-cloak-to-cover-a/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition, but the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/masters-of-the-bluff-and-masters-of-the-proposition-but-the-enemy-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“The stars are putting on their glittering belts, They throw around their shoulders cloaks that flash Like a great shadow's last embellishment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-stars-are-putting-on-their-glittering-belts-they-throw-around/) [wallace stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Good God, man, what is that smell?" He eyed with disgust the doctor's filthy cloak. "Life," answered the doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/good-god-man-what-is-that-smell-he-eyed-with-disgust-the-doctor-s/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/victory-attained-by-violence-is-tantamount-to-a-defeat-for-it-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Ambition is all very well, my lad, but you must cloak it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/ambition-is-all-very-well-my-lad-but-you-must-cloak-it/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Life is so full of meaning and of purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find that earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-giocondo/life-is-so-full-of-meaning-and-of-purpose-so-full-of-beauty-beneath/) [Giovanni Giocondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-giocondo/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. 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Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Cloaks quotes > [Life is so full of meaning and of purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find that earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-giocondo/life-is-so-full-of-meaning-and-of-purpose-so-full-of-beauty-beneath/) [Giovanni Giocondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-giocondo/) > [Ambition is all very well, my lad, but you must cloak it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/ambition-is-all-very-well-my-lad-but-you-must-cloak-it/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/victory-attained-by-violence-is-tantamount-to-a-defeat-for-it-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Good God, man, what is that smell?" He eyed with disgust the doctor's filthy cloak. "Life," answered the doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/good-god-man-what-is-that-smell-he-eyed-with-disgust-the-doctor-s/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“The stars are putting on their glittering belts, They throw around their shoulders cloaks that flash Like a great shadow's last embellishment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-stars-are-putting-on-their-glittering-belts-they-throw-around/) [wallace stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition, but the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/masters-of-the-bluff-and-masters-of-the-proposition-but-the-enemy-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The craftiest trickery are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-craftiest-trickery-are-too-short-and-ragged-a-cloak-to-cover-a/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The night breathed through the apartment like a dark animal. The ticking of a clock. The groan of a floorboard as he slipped out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/the-night-breathed-through-the-apartment-like-a-dark-animal-the/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The purpose of subject matter is to veil technique. The great artist uses the cloak of resemblance to hide the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-french-sloan/the-purpose-of-subject-matter-is-to-veil-technique-the-great-artist/) [John French Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-french-sloan/) > [“First, very little is as striking as a well-worn cloak, billowing lightly about you in the breeze. And second, the best cloaks have innumerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/first-very-little-is-as-striking-as-a-well-worn-cloak-billowing/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [ I was a little jealous of the levitation cloak but I was happy to be comfortable \[on Doctor Strange set\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-was-a-little-jealous-of-the-levitation-cloak-but-i-was-happy-to-be/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [The cloak of the past is cut from patches of feeling ,and sewn with rebus threads.Most of the time , the best we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-cloak-of-the-past-is-cut-from-patches-of-feeling-and-sewn-with/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [It is only all too easy to understand the requirements contained in God's Word ('Give all your goods to the poor.' 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