--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Listen...You could spend a lifetime…" description: "\"“Listen...You could spend a lifetime trying to understand the works of evil men. Their joys are not ours. They love to inflict pain, create suffering, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/david-gemmell-1821_evil_listen-you-could-spend-a-lifetime-trying_79050.png" --- # Listen...You could spend a lifetime trying to understand… ![“Listen...You could spend a lifetime trying to understand the works of evil men. Their joys are not ours. They love to inflict pain, create suffering, cause harm and death. It empowers them, for beneath the skin they are empty and worthless.” quote by David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/david-gemmell-1821_evil_listen-you-could-spend-a-lifetime-trying_79050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/david-gemmell-1821_evil_listen-you-could-spend-a-lifetime-trying_79050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/david-gemmell-1821_evil_listen-you-could-spend-a-lifetime-trying_79050.png) > ““Listen...You could spend a lifetime trying to understand the works of evil men. Their joys are not ours. They love to inflict pain, create suffering, cause harm and death. It empowers them, for beneath the skin they are empty and worthless.”” [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that attempting to comprehend evil is futile because such individuals are driven by a hollow desire for power and inflict suffering, reflecting their inner emptiness. **In simple terms:** Understanding evil is futile; they are empty. Key Takeaway Evil stems from emptiness and a craving for power. Themes human nature morality psychology power dynamics meaninglessness Mood somber reflective cautious Type philosophical warning cautionary When to use this quote - psychological analysis - ethical debates - literary criticism - counseling sessions - philosophical discussions Key Concepts evil motivation inner emptiness suffering power Practical Applications - critical essays - therapy frameworks Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to label someone as 'empty'? - Can we ever truly understand the motives of evil? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-men/) [Life lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“When we are caught in notions, rituals, and the outer forms of the practice, not only can we not receive and embody the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/when-we-are-caught-in-notions-rituals-and-the-outer-forms-of-the/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [The great question in life is the suffering we cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-question-in-life-is-the-suffering-we-cause/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who recognize the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy, and its cessation, have fathomed the four noble truths. They will walk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/those-who-recognize-the-existence-of-suffering-its-cause-its-remedy/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The great question in life is the suffering we cause, and the most ingenious metaphysics do not justify the man who has broken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-constant/the-great-question-in-life-is-the-suffering-we-cause-and-the-most/) [Benjamin Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-constant/) > [“Of most dreadful suffering, I am the cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/of-most-dreadful-suffering-i-am-the-cause/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [In one word, one should desire of God desirelessness. For desire alone is at the root of all suffering. It is the cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/in-one-word-one-should-desire-of-god-desirelessness-for-desire-alone/) [Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/) > [“Think about the suffering we cause ourselves internally through getting angry or jealous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyalwa-dokhampa/think-about-the-suffering-we-cause-ourselves-internally-through/) [Gyalwa Dokhampa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyalwa-dokhampa/) > [it is the worst humiliation and grievance of the suffering, that they cause suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/it-is-the-worst-humiliation-and-grievance-of-the-suffering-that-they/) [Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/) > [“My point is there will always be vile men, just as there will always be men of kindness and compassion... ...This world is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/my-point-is-there-will-always-be-vile-men-just-as-there-will-always/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“Happiness is what remains when there are no thoughts to create our suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-elkrief/happiness-is-what-remains-when-there-are-no-thoughts-to-create-our/) [Noah Elkrief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-elkrief/) > [We come to meditation to learn how not to act out the habitual tendencies we generally live by - those actions that create suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/we-come-to-meditation-to-learn-how-not-to-act-out-the-habitual/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Pain is a relatively objective, physical phenomenon; suffering is our psychological resistance to what happens. Events may create physical pain, but they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/pain-is-a-relatively-objective-physical-phenomenon-suffering-is-our/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“First, we must see that our negative actions arise due to prejudice and erroneous judgments. The discrimination that labels some as 'friends' and others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zongtrul-losang-ts-ndru/first-we-must-see-that-our-negative-actions-arise-due-to-prejudice/) [Zongtrul Losang Tsöndru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zongtrul-losang-ts-ndru/) > [The Lord did not create suffering. Pain and death came into the world with the fall of man. But after man had chosen suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-lord-did-not-create-suffering-pain-and-death-came-into-the-world/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Psychological thoughts are the ones that decide whether something is “good” or “bad”, and these are the thoughts that create our suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-elkrief/psychological-thoughts-are-the-ones-that-decide-whether-something-is/) [Noah Elkrief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-elkrief/) ## More by David Gemmell > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“It seems to me, that you people spend a great deal of time talking about honour, but strip away the high sounding words and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-seems-to-me-that-you-people-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-talking/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [Makes no sense to me,' said Huntsekker. 'You don't know who is at your door, but you know the thoughts of a man twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/makes-no-sense-to-me-said-huntsekker-you-don-t-know-who-is-at-your/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship and loyalty without price. But these are virtues to be cherished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-may-be-stupid-as-you-say-to-believe-in-honour-and-friendship-and/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [When your life has been spent in one war after another for forty-five years, you have to be pretty handy to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/when-your-life-has-been-spent-in-one-war-after-another-for-forty-five/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [When healers yearn to kill then hope begins to die ... Evil cannot be overcome by evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/when-healers-yearn-to-kill-then-hope-begins-to-die-evil-cannot-be/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-have-discovered-in-my-long-life-that-there-are-many-words-and/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [ We are full of dreams \[...\] We long for the unattainable. We believe in the nonsense of fables. There is no pure love; there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/we-are-full-of-dreams-we-long-for-the-unattainable-we-believe-in-the/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [It is easier with strangers, for they touch your life but for an instant. You will not disappoint them, for you owe them nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-is-easier-with-strangers-for-they-touch-your-life-but-for-an/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [I don't know yet whether I fully believe in fate, but certain things do happen in a man's life that he cannot explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-don-t-know-yet-whether-i-fully-believe-in-fate-but-certain-things/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [If you look at any ancient civilization, they've all used fantasy stories to train the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/if-you-look-at-any-ancient-civilization-they-ve-all-used-fantasy/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [All men have talents. Some build, some paint, some write, some fight. For me it is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/all-men-have-talents-some-build-some-paint-some-write-some-fight-for/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/never-violate-a-woman-nor-harm-a-child-do-not-lie-cheat-or-steal/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“The truth? What the Hell is the truth? We're born, we live and we die. Everything else is just shades of opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/the-truth-what-the-hell-is-the-truth-we-re-born-we-live-and-we-die/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [Most wars are fought for greed, but we are luckier here we fight for our lives and the lives of the people we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/most-wars-are-fought-for-greed-but-we-are-luckier-here-we-fight-for/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) [Explore all 201 David Gemmell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) ## More Evil quotes > [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/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. 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