---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the ordinary moral universe, the good…"
description: "\"In the ordinary moral universe, the good will do the best they can, the worst will do the worst they can, but if you want to make good people do wicked..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/christopher-hitchens-117_character_in-the-ordinary-moral-universe-the-good_2337964.jpg"
---

#  In the ordinary moral universe, the good will do the best…

![“In the ordinary moral universe, the good will do the best they can, the worst will do the worst they can, but if you want to make good people do wicked things, you’ll need religion.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/christopher-hitchens-117_character_in-the-ordinary-moral-universe-the-good_2337964.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/christopher-hitchens-117_character_in-the-ordinary-moral-universe-the-good_2337964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/christopher-hitchens-117_character_in-the-ordinary-moral-universe-the-good_2337964.jpg)

> “In the ordinary moral universe, the good will do the best they can, the worst will do the worst they can, but if you want to make good people do wicked things, you’ll need religion.”

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Good people can be compelled to commit evil when religious doctrine dictates moral authority, showing religion’s power to override personal ethics.

**In simple terms:** Religion can make good people do bad things.

Key Takeaway

Question religious authority when it conflicts with morality.

Themes

ethics religion power morality

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

essay philosophical

When to use this quote

- political activism
- ethical decision‑making
- education
- public policy

Key Concepts

political science theology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards can prevent moral abuse of any belief system?
- How can societies promote ethical behavior independent of religion?

A Different Perspective

Not all religious influence is negative; secular ideologies can also corrupt.

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[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Good will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-will/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Wicked things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-things/)

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