Banality Quote by Ervin Staub
““Evil that arises out of ordinary thinking and is committed by ordinary people is the norm, not the exception.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Roots of Evil: The Origins of Genocide and Other Group Violence, 2008
Ordinary people can commit evil through normal thinking, making such acts common rather than rare.
In simple terms: Everyday thinking can lead to ordinary evil.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge normalizing harmful thoughts.
Themes
morality
human nature
violence
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- community leadership
- media literacy
Key Concepts
social psychology
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does everyday thinking enable harm?
- What safeguards can prevent normalizing evil?
A Different Perspective
Evil can also arise from deliberate, extreme ideologies.
![“Spirituality can be severed from both vicious sectarianism and thoughtless banalities. Spirituality, I have come to see, is nothing less than the thoughtful love of life. [Spirituality for the Skeptic]” quote by Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a2/robert-c-solomon-13743_banality_spirituality-can-be-severed-from-both-vi_28872.jpg)
