--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I detect more good than evil in humanity…" description: "\"I detect more good than evil in humanity. Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, And men grow better as the world grows old.\" — Ella Wheeler Wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_evil_i-detect-more-good-than-evil-in-humanity_594625.png" --- # I detect more good than evil in humanity. Love lights more… ![“I detect more good than evil in humanity. Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, And men grow better as the world grows old.” quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_evil_i-detect-more-good-than-evil-in-humanity_594625.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_evil_i-detect-more-good-than-evil-in-humanity_594625.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_evil_i-detect-more-good-than-evil-in-humanity_594625.png) > “I detect more good than evil in humanity. Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, And men grow better as the world grows old.” [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity leans toward good; love amplifies positivity, while hate diminishes. **In simple terms:** Love grows, hate shrinks. Key Takeaway Cultivate love, reduce hate. Themes humanity goodness love Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community building - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts moral philosophy optimism Questions to Reflect On - How can love be fostered in hostile environments? - What role does empathy play in reducing hate? A Different Perspective Human nature also contains selfishness and aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-grows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, and men grow better as the world grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/love-lights-more-fires-than-hate-extinguishes-and-men-grow-better-as/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [To understand the Left, one must understand that in its view the greatest evil is material inequality. The Left is more troubled by economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/to-understand-the-left-one-must-understand-that-in-its-view-the/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [In seeking to avoid evil, humanity is responsible for bringing more evil into the world than organisms could ever do merely by exercising their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/in-seeking-to-avoid-evil-humanity-is-responsible-for-bringing-more/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Every home has its influences, for good or evil, upon humanity at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/every-home-has-its-influences-for-good-or-evil-upon-humanity-at-large/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) > [I think that fiction is an excellent place for us to struggle with questions of good and evil, and humanity and inhumanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/i-think-that-fiction-is-an-excellent-place-for-us-to-struggle-with/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Love lights more fire than hate extinguishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/love-lights-more-fire-than-hate-extinguishes/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, The headstones thicken along the way; And life grows sadder, but love grows stronger For those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/the-days-grow-shorter-the-nights-grow-longer-the-headstones-thicken/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/love-lights-more-fires-than-hate-extinguishes/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Give of thy love, nor wait to know the worth Of what thou lovest; and ask no returning. And wheresoe'er thy pathway leads on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/give-of-thy-love-nor-wait-to-know-the-worth-of-what-thou-lovest-and/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [For our personal advancement in virtue and truth one quality is sufficient, namely, love; to advance humanity there must be two, love and intelligence;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-claude-de-saint-martin/for-our-personal-advancement-in-virtue-and-truth-one-quality-is/) [Louis Claude de Saint-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-claude-de-saint-martin/) > [In the last resort, a love of God without love of humanity is no love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/in-the-last-resort-a-love-of-god-without-love-of-humanity-is-no-love/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [“purely good actions are those actions which subserve and never hinder human interests either material or spiritual, such as humanity and love of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/purely-good-actions-are-those-actions-which-subserve-and-never-hinder/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [I love everybody. You have to embrace all facets of humanity; love and accept everyone as being part of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-love-everybody-you-have-to-embrace-all-facets-of-humanity-love-and/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [If you really want to love humanity, then you have to love humanity as it is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/if-you-really-want-to-love-humanity-then-you-have-to-love-humanity-as/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [The way of the warrior is based on humanity, love and sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-way-of-the-warrior-is-based-on-humanity-love-and-sincerity/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) ## More by Ella Wheeler Wilcox > [A day which passed without a poem from my pen I considered lost and misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/a-day-which-passed-without-a-poem-from-my-pen-i-considered-lost-and/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Why dost thou shrink from my approach, O Man? Why dost thou ever flee in fear, and cling To my false rival, Life? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/why-dost-thou-shrink-from-my-approach-o-man-why-dost-thou-ever-flee/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [With every rising of the sun Think of your life as just begun. The past has shrived and buried deep All yesterdays— there let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/with-every-rising-of-the-sun-think-of-your-life-as-just-begun-the/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“Why, even Death stands still and waits an hour for such a will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/why-even-death-stands-still-and-waits-an-hour-for-such-a-will/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Better to wait and yearn, and still to wait, And die at last with unappeased desire, Than live to be the jest of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/better-to-wait-and-yearn-and-still-to-wait-and-die-at-last-with/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, and men grow better as the world grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/love-lights-more-fires-than-hate-extinguishes-and-men-grow-better-as/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Back on its golden hinges The gate of Memory swings, And my heart goes into the garden And walks with the olden things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/back-on-its-golden-hinges-the-gate-of-memory-swings-and-my-heart-goes/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I hold it true that thoughts are things Endowed with bodies, breath, and wings, And that we send them forth to fill The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/i-hold-it-true-that-thoughts-are-things-endowed-with-bodies-breath/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [All perfect things are saddening in effect. The autumn wood robed in its scarlet clothes, The matchless tinting on the royal rose Whose velvet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/all-perfect-things-are-saddening-in-effect-the-autumn-wood-robed-in/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Content is not the pathway to great deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/content-is-not-the-pathway-to-great-deeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Don't anticipate the happiness of tomorrow. Discover it today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/don-t-anticipate-the-happiness-of-tomorrow-discover-it-today/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“And yet I would not be a child again. For surely as the night succeeds the day, So surely will their mirth turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/and-yet-i-would-not-be-a-child-again-for-surely-as-the-night-succeeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Day's sweetest moments are at dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/day-s-sweetest-moments-are-at-dawn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Oh! not for the great departed, Who formed our country's laws, And not for the bravest-hearted, Who died in freedom's cause, And not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/oh-not-for-the-great-departed-who-formed-our-country-s-laws-and-not/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) [Explore all 240 Ella Wheeler Wilcox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## 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. 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