--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the…" description: "\"Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however, do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_animal_not-evil-moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-s_1504265.jpg" --- # Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil… ![“Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however, doesn't stop to think or reason. He acts on instinct, like a stable animal, convinced he's doing good, that he's always right, and sanctimoniously…” quote by Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_animal_not-evil-moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-s_1504265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_animal_not-evil-moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-s_1504265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_animal_not-evil-moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-s_1504265.jpg) > “Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however, doesn't stop to think or reason. He acts on instinct, like a stable animal, convinced he's doing good, that he's always right, and sanctimoniously proud to go around f\*\*\*ing up ... anyone he perceives to be different from himself, be it because of skin color, creed, language, nationality, or ... leisure habits. What the world needs is more thoroughly evil people and fewer borderline pigheads.” [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author distinguishes between evil, which involves deliberate moral choice, and foolishness, which is instinctive and unthinking, arguing for more true evil and fewer ignorant aggressors. **In simple terms:** Evil is intentional; foolishness is instinctive. Key Takeaway Recognize intent behind harmful actions. Themes ethics human behavior morality identity social conflict Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - conflict resolution - education - community building - policy making Key Concepts intentionality moral philosophy social prejudice Questions to Reflect On - What defines true evil? - How can societies reduce ignorant aggression? A Different Perspective The call for “more evil” is paradoxical and could be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Borderline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borderline/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Moronic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-moronic-5522252/) [Evil people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-people/) [Forethought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forethought/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-decisions/) [Moron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moron/) [Moronic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moronic/) [Moronic Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moronic-isn-5280774/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Skin color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-color/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Thing Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-evil-236129/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decison, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however, doesn't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-same-thing-evil-presupposes-a-moral/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [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/) > [I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-evil-animal/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [“The real thing about evil… you figure out one side of it - the human side, say - and the eternal side goes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-real-thing-about-evil-you-figure-out-one-side-of-it-the-human/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You’re not evil,” he had whispered, those bright, solemn blue eyes staring into me, peeling away every defense. “No one who fights so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/you-re-not-evil-he-had-whispered-those-bright-solemn-blue-eyes/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“There's no such thing as evil for its own sake . All evil is motivated - even mine {Lucifer}.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/there-s-no-such-thing-as-evil-for-its-own-sake-all-evil-is-motivated/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“What's the one thing Evil can never have... and the one thing Good can never do without?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soman-chainani/what-s-the-one-thing-evil-can-never-have-and-the-one-thing-good-can/) [Soman Chainani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soman-chainani/) > [“And this is the only really startling thing about the evil of the world: not that so much of it exists, but that nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/and-this-is-the-only-really-startling-thing-about-the-evil-of-the/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [The only thing evil can’t stand is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-only-thing-evil-can-t-stand-is-forgiveness/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“There is no such thing as evil in the world of science. There are only those who discover and are remembered, and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-barrus/there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-in-the-world-of-science-there-are-only/) [S.C. Barrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-barrus/) > [Evil is not only By hurting other's stendind and watching reail bad happning in fornt of us and not doning any thing is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-cruz/evil-is-not-only-by-hurting-other-s-stendind-and-watching-reail-bad/) [Kevin D'cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-cruz/) > [“That’s the thing about evil. You don’t need to be it to do it. It doesn’t have to consume all of you. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/that-s-the-thing-about-evil-you-don-t-need-to-be-it-to-do-it-it-doesn/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“It's said on my world that the only thing evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing." - Will Bradshaw”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-daigle/it-s-said-on-my-world-that-the-only-thing-evil-needs-to-succeed-is/) [Arthur Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-daigle/) > [I'd have to say, and I think that most Christians would hold the view, that there is such a thing as evil, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hollingworth/i-d-have-to-say-and-i-think-that-most-christians-would-hold-the-view/) [Peter Hollingworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hollingworth/) > [“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird or devil! — Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/prophet-said-i-thing-of-evil-prophet-still-if-bird-or-devil-whether/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## More by Carlos Ruiz Zafon > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“I carried the trace of her lips, of her breath on my skin through streets full of faceless people escaping from offices and shops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-carried-the-trace-of-her-lips-of-her-breath-on-my-skin-through/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Nekada davno, u djetinjstvu, možda is toga što sam odrastao među knjigama i knjižarima, odlučio sam da želim postati pisac i živjeti životom punim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/nekada-davno-u-djetinjstvu-mo-da-is-toga-to-sam-odrastao-me-u/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“nations never see themselves clearly in the mirror, much less when war preys on their minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/nations-never-see-themselves-clearly-in-the-mirror-much-less-when-war/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“But I couldn't absorb the idea that death could actually walk by my side, with a human face and a heart that was poisoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/but-i-couldn-t-absorb-the-idea-that-death-could-actually-walk-by-my/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Wise men think and speak alike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/wise-men-think-and-speak-alike/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Time plays for the other team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/time-plays-for-the-other-team/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Once I'd worked out that I couldn't possibly expect people to enjoy a monstrous, 3000-page book, I realised I could in fact create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/once-i-d-worked-out-that-i-couldn-t-possibly-expect-people-to-enjoy-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [The haunting of history is ever present in Barcelona. I see cities as organisms, as living creatures. To me, Madrid is a man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-haunting-of-history-is-ever-present-in-barcelona-i-see-cities-as/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Waiting is the rust of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/waiting-is-the-rust-of-the-soul/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“The main pillar of organized religion, with few exceptions, is the subjugation, repression, even the annulment of women in the group. 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As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. 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But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. 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It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however, doesn't stop to think or reason. He acts on instinct, like a stable animal, convinced he's doing good, that he's always right, and sanctimoniously proud to go around f***ing up ... anyone he perceives to be different from himself, be it because of skin color, creed, language, nationality, or ... leisure habits. 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