--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I believe that I will never be able…" description: "\"And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human being for his so-called 'wickedness,' that I shall only hate the evil that is within me, thou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg" --- # And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human… ![“And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human being for his so-called 'wickedness,' that I shall only hate the evil that is within me, though hate is perhaps putting it too strongly even then. In any case, we cannot be lax enough in what we demand of others and strict enough in what we…” quote by Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg) > “And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human being for his so-called 'wickedness,' that I shall only hate the evil that is within me, though hate is perhaps putting it too strongly even then. In any case, we cannot be lax enough in what we demand of others and strict enough in what we demand of ourselves.” [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑critique should focus on inner flaws, not external hatred, while maintaining high standards for self and others. **In simple terms:** Hate yourself, not others; hold high standards. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and moral rigor. Themes self‑reflection ethics humanity Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - community leadership Key Concepts existentialism moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish self‑critique from self‑condemnation? - What standards do you set for yourself versus others? A Different Perspective Self‑judgment can become paralyzing if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Called Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-wickedness-5714147/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-hate-1254414/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-evil-445391/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Lax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lax/) [Strict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strict/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/) [Wickedness Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness-shall-676794/) ## Related quotes > [There is a very good thing about hating evil. If you hate evil, that's all you will hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-a-very-good-thing-about-hating-evil-if-you-hate-evil-that-s/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [If you really do hate evil, you can't hate anything else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-you-really-do-hate-evil-you-can-t-hate-anything-else/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [You hate evil, but you don't hate the people that do evil. So, hate has to go out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/you-hate-evil-but-you-don-t-hate-the-people-that-do-evil-so-hate-has/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [Men do not so much hate an evil-doer, or evil itself, as they hate the man who calls evil by its real name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/men-do-not-so-much-hate-an-evil-doer-or-evil-itself-as-they-hate-the/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [Those who don't hate evil hate those who do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/those-who-don-t-hate-evil-hate-those-who-do/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/violence-is-risen-up-into-a-rod-of-wickedness-none-of-them-shall/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God's wisdom, nor our infirmity God's omnipotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/our-wickedness-shall-not-overpower-the-unspeakable-goodness-and-mercy/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [“A man's wickedness shall be upon his own head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-man-s-wickedness-shall-be-upon-his-own-head/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/hast-thou-not-procured-this-unto-thyself-in-that-thou-hast-forsaken/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Not all of those to whom we do good love us, neither do all those to whom we do evil hate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/not-all-of-those-to-whom-we-do-good-love-us-neither-do-all-those-to/) [Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/) > [“And so we know the satisfaction of hate. We know the sweet joy of revenge. How it feels good to get even. Oh, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/and-so-we-know-the-satisfaction-of-hate-we-know-the-sweet-joy-of/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [You do not see clearly the evil in yourself, else you would hate yourself with all your soul. Like the lion who sprang at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-do-not-see-clearly-the-evil-in-yourself-else-you-would-hate/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Those who don't fight evil hate those who do; and those who don't fight real evils make up little evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/those-who-don-t-fight-evil-hate-those-who-do-and-those-who-don-t/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [I could not understand why men who knew all about good and evil could hate and kill each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-not-understand-why-men-who-knew-all-about-good-and-evil-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/returning-hate-for-hate-multiplies-hate-adding-deeper-darkness-to-a/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) ## More by Etty Hillesum > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Every word born of an inner necessity - writing must never be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/every-word-born-of-an-inner-necessity-writing-must-never-be-anything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [That fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/that-fear-of-missing-out-on-things-makes-you-miss-out-on-everything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/there-are-moments-when-i-feel-like-giving-up-or-giving-in-but-i-soon/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/the-externals-are-simply-so-many-props-everything-we-need-is-within-us/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one finds the strength to deal with small things, one finds it to deal with the large ones as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-finds-the-strength-to-deal-with-small-things-one-finds-it-to/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [All disasters stem from us. Why is there a war? Perhaps because now and then I might be inclined to snap at my neighbour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/all-disasters-stem-from-us-why-is-there-a-war-perhaps-because-now-and/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-in-a-whole-day-is-the-rest-we-take/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We human beings cause monstrous conditions, but precisely because we cause them we soon learn to adapt ourselves to them. Only if we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-human-beings-cause-monstrous-conditions-but-precisely-because-we/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/despite-everything-life-is-full-of-beauty-and-meaning/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes my day is crammed full of people and talk and yet I have the feeling of living in utter peace and quiet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-my-day-is-crammed-full-of-people-and-talk-and-yet-i-have/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one burdens the future with one's worries, it cannot grow organically. I am filled with confidence, not that I shall succeed in worldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-burdens-the-future-with-one-s-worries-it-cannot-grow/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies. We make mental provisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-have-to-fight-them-daily-like-fleas-those-many-small-worries-about/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) [Explore all 62 Etty Hillesum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human being for his so-called 'wickedness,' that I shall only hate the evil that is within me, though hate is perhaps putting it too strongly even then. In any case, we cannot be lax enough in what we demand of others and strict enough in what we demand of ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Etty Hillesum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able-to-hate-any-human-being-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able-to-hate-any-human-being-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/etty-hillesum-9002_able_and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able_3161143.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And I believe that I will never be able to hate any human being for his so-called 'wickedness,' that I shall…” — Etty Hillesum", "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": "Etty Hillesum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And I believe that I will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able-to-hate-any-human-being-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/and-i-believe-that-i-will-never-be-able-to-hate-any-human-being-for/#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 } } ] } ```