--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of two evils, it is perhaps less…" description: "\"Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society, that good doctrine should be accompanied by a bad life, than that a good life should lend its su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/charles-caleb-colton-270_bad-life_of-two-evils-it-is-perhaps-less-injuriou_1072576.png" --- # Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society… ![“Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society, that good doctrine should be accompanied by a bad life, than that a good life should lend its support to a bad doctrine.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/charles-caleb-colton-270_bad-life_of-two-evils-it-is-perhaps-less-injuriou_1072576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/charles-caleb-colton-270_bad-life_of-two-evils-it-is-perhaps-less-injuriou_1072576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/charles-caleb-colton-270_bad-life_of-two-evils-it-is-perhaps-less-injuriou_1072576.png) > “Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society, that good doctrine should be accompanied by a bad life, than that a good life should lend its support to a bad doctrine.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harmful doctrine paired with a bad life may be less damaging than a good life supporting a bad doctrine. **In simple terms:** Bad life with bad doctrine can be less harmful than good life supporting bad doctrine. Key Takeaway Beware of endorsing harmful ideas, even with good intentions. Themes ethics philosophy social impact Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - education policy - leadership decisions - community building Key Concepts moral compromise ideological risk Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate the morality of ideas you support? - What safeguards prevent good intentions from causing harm? A Different Perspective Good intentions can unintentionally empower harmful systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [If God consistently sent lightning bolts in response to bad doctrine, our planet would sparkle nightly like a Christmas tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/if-god-consistently-sent-lightning-bolts-in-response-to-bad-doctrine/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Good conduct arises out of good doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/good-conduct-arises-out-of-good-doctrine/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“Faith and repentance will be good doctrine to preach and hear to the end of the world; you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/faith-and-repentance-will-be-good-doctrine-to-preach-and-hear-to-the/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“I fear many imagine God as far too small. Even if you say the right words and articulate good doctrine, if you are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/i-fear-many-imagine-god-as-far-too-small-even-if-you-say-the-right/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [“Don’t be under the delusion that seminary automatically makes you grow in grace (2 Pet. 3:18). In fact, it can have quite the opposite effect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/don-t-be-under-the-delusion-that-seminary-automatically-makes-you/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [“When the great ship containing the hopes and aspirations of the world, when the great ship freighted with mankind goes down in the night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/when-the-great-ship-containing-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-the-world/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [O that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle and darnel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-latimer/o-that-our-prelates-would-be-as-diligent-to-sow-the-corn-of-good/) [Hugh Latimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-latimer/) > [Humility is a virtue all preach, none practise, and yet every body is content to hear. The master thinks it good doctrine for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/humility-is-a-virtue-all-preach-none-practise-and-yet-every-body-is/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The height, the deity of man is to be self-sustained, to need no gift, no foreign force. 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