--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The opposite of good is not evil; it's…" description: "\"The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy.\" — Cindy Sheehan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png" --- # The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy. ![“The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy.” quote by Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png) > “The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy.” [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## 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 an active force; apathy is the passive neglect that allows harm to persist. **In simple terms:** Apathy is worse than evil. Key Takeaway Combat apathy with informed action. Themes morality indifference activism Mood reflective serious Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - Community organizing - voting - education campaigns Key Concepts Ethics Social responsibility Apathy Questions to Reflect On - What drives your apathy? - How can you turn concern into action? A Different Perspective Apathy may stem from feeling powerless, not just indifference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-apathy-4673254/) [Good evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-evil/) [Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite/) [Opposite Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-good-3475565/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) ## Related quotes > [The opposite of good is not evil, the opposite of good is indifference,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-the-opposite-of-good-is-indifference/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The opposite of faith is not heresy but indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-opposite-of-faith-is-not-heresy-but-indifference/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-s-a-beautiful-thing-the-destruction-of-words-of-course-the-great-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-s-a-beautiful-thing-the-destruction-of-words-of-course-the-great/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“What if the opposite of good wasn't bad? What if the opposite of good was real?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-dederer/what-if-the-opposite-of-good-wasn-t-bad-what-if-the-opposite-of-good/) [Claire Dederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-dederer/) > [“Funny how his two special abilities—taking and giving life—were so opposite, but only the “good” one came with pain. He supposed it made sense;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/funny-how-his-two-special-abilities-taking-and-giving-life-were-so/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [“After all, what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other word? A word contains its opposite in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/after-all-what-justification-is-there-for-a-word-which-is-simply-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [...the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn. If somebody hates me, they must "feel" something ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-apathy-it-s-not-giving-a-damn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hate isn’t the opposite of love, apathy is. Hating doesn’t free you from feeling anything. You have to carry it around, using every scar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasmenia-massoud/hate-isn-t-the-opposite-of-love-apathy-is-hating-doesn-t-free-you/) [Rasmenia Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasmenia-massoud/) > [The opposite of love is not hate, its apathy, when u simply don't bother about that person!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-its-apathy-when-u-simply-don-t/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-have-a-very-strong-feeling-that-the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-2/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love isnt hate- its apathy. It's not giving a damn ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-very-strong-feeling-that-the-opposite-of-love-isnt-hate-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The opposite of love is apathy, and hate is really the same as love-if your so consumed with hatred for someone, you might as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/the-opposite-of-love-is-apathy-and-hate-is-really-the-same-as-love-if/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“Hate is not the opposite of Love. It is apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/hate-is-not-the-opposite-of-love-it-is-apathy/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [The oppposite of love is not hate. Hate is just love gone bad. The actual oppposite of love is apathy. When you don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/the-oppposite-of-love-is-not-hate-hate-is-just-love-gone-bad-the/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) ## More by Cindy Sheehan > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“Casey was a faithful Christian filled with the spirit of the Christ; George is a hypocrite who says he is a Christian but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/casey-was-a-faithful-christian-filled-with-the-spirit-of-the-christ/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I feel like I gave my son to this country in an illegal and immoral war. I'll never get him back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-feel-like-i-gave-my-son-to-this-country-in-an-illegal-and-immoral/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Let's push the Pentagon off the fiscal cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/let-s-push-the-pentagon-off-the-fiscal-cliff/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/if-the-people-of-america-do-not-rise-up-take-ownership-of-our-country/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I think some of the people on the Left... were extremely jealous of me getting what they thought was all of the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-think-some-of-the-people-on-the-left-were-extremely-jealous-of-me/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Loyalty to the true, core values and roots of democracy is what makes a true patriot, not loyalty to a symbol of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/loyalty-to-the-true-core-values-and-roots-of-democracy-is-what-makes/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [58% of the American public are with us. We're preaching to the choir, but the choir's not singing, if all of the 58% started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/58-of-the-american-public-are-with-us-we-re-preaching-to-the-choir/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Everything I say comes from my heart - and it's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/everything-i-say-comes-from-my-heart-and-it-s-the-truth/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [So what really gets me is these chickenhawks, who sent our kids to die, without ever serving in a war themselves. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/so-what-really-gets-me-is-these-chickenhawks-who-sent-our-kids-to-die/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I was told my son was killed in the war on terror. He was killed by George Bush's war of terror on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-was-told-my-son-was-killed-in-the-war-on-terror-he-was-killed-by/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I can't speak for the other people whose children have died, but I can speak for my family and the other members of Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-can-t-speak-for-the-other-people-whose-children-have-died-but-i-can/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [It's up to us, the people, to break immoral laws, and resist. As soon as the leaders of a country lie to you, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/it-s-up-to-us-the-people-to-break-immoral-laws-and-resist-as-soon-as/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [People demonize me; people idolize me; everything I say and do has been scrutinized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/people-demonize-me-people-idolize-me-everything-i-say-and-do-has-been/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I love my country. But how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-love-my-country-but-how-many-more-of-our-loved-ones-need-to-die-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) [Explore all 105 Cindy Sheehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cindy Sheehan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-apathy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apathy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-apathy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/cindy-sheehan-4928_apathy_the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-ap_2175043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The opposite of good is not evil; it's apathy.” — Cindy Sheehan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cindy Sheehan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The opposite of good is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-apathy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/the-opposite-of-good-is-not-evil-it-s-apathy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```