--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All that needs to be done for evil to…" description: "\"All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.\" — Edmund Burke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg" --- # All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men… ![“All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg) > “All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.” [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that evil thrives when good people remain passive, emphasizing the duty to act against wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Evil succeeds when good stay idle. Key Takeaway Take action against injustice. Themes morality activism responsibility politics Mood urgent inspirational Type political ethical When to use this quote - social movements - community organizing - political advocacy Key Concepts civic duty ethical theory Questions to Reflect On - What prevents good people from acting? - How can societies encourage proactive ethics? A Different Perspective Inaction may stem from fear or helplessness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Prevail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-prevail-1709450/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-men/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-evil-5969206/) [Prevail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevail/) [Prevail Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevail-good-1751450/) ## Related quotes > [For evil to prevail, all that good men have to do, is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/for-evil-to-prevail-all-that-good-men-have-to-do-is-nothing/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“All it took for evil to prevail was for good men to do nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-robinson/all-it-took-for-evil-to-prevail-was-for-good-men-to-do-nothing/) [Nathan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-robinson/) > [“For evil to prevail all good men have to do is NOTHING!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-anderson/for-evil-to-prevail-all-good-men-have-to-do-is-nothing/) [Anne Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-anderson/) > [“that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/that-is-required-for-evil-to-prevail-is-for-good-men-to-do-nothing/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-is-necessary-for-evil-to-prevail-is-for-good-people-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Evil might not prevail in the end, but it certainly doesn't fail to devastate in its time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/evil-might-not-prevail-in-the-end-but-it-certainly-doesn-t-fail-to/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-is-necessary-for-the-triumph-of-evil-is-for-good-men-to-do/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-s-necessary-for-the-forces-of-evil-to-win-in-the-world-is/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The Fate of good men who refuse to become involved in politics is to be ruled by evil men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-fate-of-good-men-who-refuse-to-become-involved-in-politics-is-to/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-is-necessary-for-evil-to-succeed-is-that-good-men-do-nothing/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Evil succeeds when good men do nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/evil-succeeds-when-good-men-do-nothing/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Evil prevails when good men fail to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/evil-prevails-when-good-men-fail-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I am disgusted and worn out with the system that seems to prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buford/i-am-disgusted-and-worn-out-with-the-system-that-seems-to-prevail/) [John Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buford/) > [Through the worst we prevail so our voices will be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hatebreed/through-the-worst-we-prevail-so-our-voices-will-be-heard/) [Hatebreed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hatebreed/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) ## More by Edmund Burke > [It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-the-interest-of-the-commercial-world-that-wealth-should-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/many-of-the-greatest-tyrants-on-the-records-of-history-have-begun/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Wise men will apply their remedies to vices, not to names; to the causes of evil which are permanent, not to the occasional organs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wise-men-will-apply-their-remedies-to-vices-not-to-names-to-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/my-vigour-relents-i-pardon-something-to-the-spirit-of-liberty/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-is-it-we-all-seek-for-in-an-election-to-answer-its-real-purposes/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [You can never plan the future by the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-can-never-plan-the-future-by-the-past/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great inlet by which a colour for oppression has entered into the world is by one man's pretending to determine concerning the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-inlet-by-which-a-colour-for-oppression-has-entered-into-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Religion, to have any force upon men's understandings,--indeed, to exist at all,--must be supposed paramount to law, and independent for its substance upon any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/religion-to-have-any-force-upon-men-s-understandings-indeed-to-exist/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Explore all 595 Edmund Burke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More Doing nothing quotes > [Doing nothing gives me great pleasure. And believe me, I succeed wonderfully in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-nothing-gives-me-great-pleasure-and-believe-me-i-succeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But out there are many, many more people who are addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/you-are-going-to-kill-me-and-that-will-protect-society-from-me-but/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. I strongly oppose feminism because it's nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-women-i-hate-feminism-hate-may-be-an-accurate-word-but-too/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/retirement-is-wonderful-it-s-doing-nothing-without-worrying-about/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [If you can't be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-can-t-be-remarkable-perhaps-you-should-consider-doing-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The problem with lethargy is that doing nothing validates the fear that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/the-problem-with-lethargy-is-that-doing-nothing-validates-the-fear/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/talk-to-the-guys-that-ain-t-doing-nothing-don-t-talk-to-me-i-just/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Never go into business purely to make money. If that's the motive you're better off doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/never-go-into-business-purely-to-make-money-if-that-s-the-motive-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Music is my life. I love doing it, so I just do it nonstop all day. And with dancing, I wanted to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/music-is-my-life-i-love-doing-it-so-i-just-do-it-nonstop-all-day-and/) [Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) [Browse all 361 Doing nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Burke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-prevail-is-good-men-doing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing nothing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-prevail-is-good-men-doing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/edmund-burke-400_doing-nothing_all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-pr_1580485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.” — Edmund Burke", "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": "Edmund Burke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All that needs to be done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-prevail-is-good-men-doing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-that-needs-to-be-done-for-evil-to-prevail-is-good-men-doing/#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 } } ] } ```