--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Evil is never done so thoroughly or so…" description: "\"“Evil is never done so thoroughly or so well as when it is done with a good conscience.”\" — Blaise Pascal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08d/blaise-pascal-167_ethics_evil-is-never-done-so-thoroughly-or-so-w_1392328.jpg" --- # Evil is never done so thoroughly or so well as when it is… ![“Evil is never done so thoroughly or so well as when it is done with a good conscience.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08d/blaise-pascal-167_ethics_evil-is-never-done-so-thoroughly-or-so-w_1392328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08d/blaise-pascal-167_ethics_evil-is-never-done-so-thoroughly-or-so-w_1392328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08d/blaise-pascal-167_ethics_evil-is-never-done-so-thoroughly-or-so-w_1392328.jpg) > ““Evil is never done so thoroughly or so well as when it is done with a good conscience.”” [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil is most effective when performed with a clear conscience, masking its immorality. **In simple terms:** Good conscience hides evil’s thoroughness. Key Takeaway Beware of rationalizations that mask wrongdoing. Themes morality evil conscience Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal judgments - personal decisions - organizational policies Key Concepts rationalization ethical blindness self-deception Questions to Reflect On - When have you justified a harmful act? - How does conscience influence moral choices? A Different Perspective Even with a good conscience, evil can be subtle and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ## Related quotes > [We never do evil so thoroughly and heartily as when led to it by an honest but perverted, because mistaken, conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/we-never-do-evil-so-thoroughly-and-heartily-as-when-led-to-it-by-an/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) Boethius D. 524 > [“There is a unique pleasure in obedience. The answer of a good conscience brings into the heart a peace and satisfaction that nothing can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-andreola/there-is-a-unique-pleasure-in-obedience-the-answer-of-a-good/) Karen Andreola > [“Faith is a good conscience of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/faith-is-a-good-conscience-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A good conscience is a continual Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-good-conscience-is-a-continual-christmas/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Nothing taxes an actor more thoroughly than a good audiobook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-rosenblat/nothing-taxes-an-actor-more-thoroughly-than-a-good-audiobook/) [Barbara Rosenblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-rosenblat/) > [To become a thoroughly good man is the best prescription for keeping a sound mind and a sound body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bowen/to-become-a-thoroughly-good-man-is-the-best-prescription-for-keeping/) Francis Bowen > [No one talks more passionately about his rights than he who in the depths of his soul doubts whether he has any. By enlisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/no-one-talks-more-passionately-about-his-rights-than-he-who-in-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A good conscience and a good confidence go together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/a-good-conscience-and-a-good-confidence-go-together/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust ... is in reality expressing the highest respect for law ... We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/one-who-breaks-an-unjust-law-that-conscience-tells-him-is-unjust-is/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whence do I get my rules of conduct? I find them in my heart. Whatever I feel to be good is good. Whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/whence-do-i-get-my-rules-of-conduct-i-find-them-in-my-heart-whatever/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [We lie to ourselves in order that we may still have the excuse of ignorance, the alibi of stupidity and incomprehension, possessing which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/we-lie-to-ourselves-in-order-that-we-may-still-have-the-excuse-of/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Keep a clear conscience. Contentment is the manna that is laid up in the ark of a good conscience: O take heed of indulging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/keep-a-clear-conscience-contentment-is-the-manna-that-is-laid-up-in/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [I think God asks us to promise to replenish the planet and to pay 100% attention to our young so that they will develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-gossett-jr/i-think-god-asks-us-to-promise-to-replenish-the-planet-and-to-pay-100/) [Louis Gossett, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-gossett-jr/) > [Science and art are only too often a superior kind of dope, possessing this advantage over booze and morphia: that they can be indulged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/science-and-art-are-only-too-often-a-superior-kind-of-dope-possessing/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by Blaise Pascal > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-read-too-fast-or-too-slowly-we-understand-nothing/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/mahomet-established-a-religion-by-putting-his-enemies-to-death-jesus/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Reflect on death as in Jesus Christ, not as without Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The majority is the best way, because it is visible, and has strength to make itself obeyed. Yet it is the opinion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-majority-is-the-best-way-because-it-is-visible-and-has-strength/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Explore all 988 Blaise Pascal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. 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