--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good work is complicated and may cause…" description: "\"“Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but inaction in the face of manifest injustice is simply opting for the harm we know rather than the po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png" --- # Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but… ![“Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but inaction in the face of manifest injustice is simply opting for the harm we know rather than the potential for harm that we can’t fully predict.” quote by David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png) > ““Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but inaction in the face of manifest injustice is simply opting for the harm we know rather than the potential for harm that we can’t fully predict.”” [David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting against clear injustice is essential, even if outcomes are uncertain, because avoiding action perpetuates known harm. **In simple terms:** Avoiding action on injustice causes known harm. Key Takeaway Choose to act despite uncertainty. Themes justice responsibility risk Mood determined serious Type ethical political When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts ethical decision‑making moral courage Questions to Reflect On - What injustice will you confront? - How do you balance risk and moral duty? A Different Perspective Inaction may sometimes prevent unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [What harm has he ever done to you?' 'You know what harm he's done me. He offended me with his terrible taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-harm-has-he-ever-done-to-you-you-know-what-harm-he-s-done-me-he/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [About the greatest virtue a friend can have, is to be able to hold her tongue; and through this, like all virtues carried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/about-the-greatest-virtue-a-friend-can-have-is-to-be-able-to-hold-her/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [We think of justice sometimes as getting what you deserve, you know - what crime was committed and what is the punishment for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-think-of-justice-sometimes-as-getting-what-you-deserve-you-know/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [I truly believe that one of the things that has been lacking in America is a spirit of repentance about the injustices of slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-truly-believe-that-one-of-the-things-that-has-been-lacking-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/) [Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I realize more and more how instinctively pessimistic I am of all human kindness -- since I am always so bowled over by it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/i-realize-more-and-more-how-instinctively-pessimistic-i-am-of-all/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) > [I actually recommend as little actual counting as possible in a life partnership. But, when there's a sense of injustice brewing between you, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/i-actually-recommend-as-little-actual-counting-as-possible-in-a-life/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [A perpetually new and lively world, but a dangerous one, full of tragedy and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/a-perpetually-new-and-lively-world-but-a-dangerous-one-full-of/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) ## More by David LaMotte > [“We are all hypocrites, in the sense that our actions will never perfectly match our values as we profess them. The question is whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/we-are-all-hypocrites-in-the-sense-that-our-actions-will-never/) [David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) > [You mean the world to me and I'll never stop loving you 'Cause what you have given me I can never repay And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/you-mean-the-world-to-me-and-i-ll-never-stop-loving-you-cause-what/) [David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) > [Change isn't optional, and creation isn't something that happened a long time ago and then ended. It's ongoing, and we are invited to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/change-isn-t-optional-and-creation-isn-t-something-that-happened-a/) [David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) > [Andy Gullahorn is my favorite new musical discovery of the past five years. He's a brilliant writer, a fine musician and a generous spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/andy-gullahorn-is-my-favorite-new-musical-discovery-of-the-past-five/) [David LaMotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) [Explore all 5 David LaMotte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/) ## More Harm quotes > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I've never done anybody any harm in my entire life. No need to chase girls, I've thousands of them on Top Of The Pops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-savile/i-ve-never-done-anybody-any-harm-in-my-entire-life-no-need-to-chase/) [Jimmy Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-savile/) > [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/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Be Kind - If not, Bring No Harm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-r-west/be-kind-if-not-bring-no-harm/) Bianca R. West > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-have-noticed-that-nothing-i-have-never-said-ever-did-me-any-harm/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-ve-said-before-the-number-one-thing-that-we-have-to-work-on-is/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) [Browse all 2,207 Harm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but inaction in the face of manifest injustice is simply opting for the harm we know rather than the potential for harm that we can’t fully predict.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David LaMotte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-damage-but-inaction-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-damage-but-inaction-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/david-lamotte-60452_harm_good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-d_898818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good work is complicated and may cause damage, but inaction in the face of manifest injustice is simply…” — David LaMotte", "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": "David LaMotte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lamotte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Good work is complicated and may...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-damage-but-inaction-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lamotte/good-work-is-complicated-and-may-cause-damage-but-inaction-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```