--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the gods do evil then they are not gods." description: "\"If the gods do evil then they are not gods.\" — Euripides" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/euripides-472_atheism_if-the-gods-do-evil-then-they-are-not-go_2082199.png" --- # If the gods do evil then they are not gods. ![“If the gods do evil then they are not gods.” quote by Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/euripides-472_atheism_if-the-gods-do-evil-then-they-are-not-go_2082199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/euripides-472_atheism_if-the-gods-do-evil-then-they-are-not-go_2082199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/euripides-472_atheism_if-the-gods-do-evil-then-they-are-not-go_2082199.png) > “If the gods do evil then they are not gods.” [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If divine beings act maliciously, they cease to be gods, as true divinity implies benevolence. **In simple terms:** Evil actions disqualify beings from being gods. Key Takeaway Question the nature of power. Themes morality divinity justice Mood critical contemplative Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - political leadership - religious authority - personal morality Key Concepts theology ethics mythology Questions to Reflect On - Can a deity be both powerful and flawed? - What defines a god's moral responsibility? A Different Perspective Some cultures view gods as beyond human morality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Death must be an evil and the gods agree; for why else would they live for ever?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/death-must-be-an-evil-and-the-gods-agree-for-why-else-would-they-live/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [Death is an evil; the gods have so judged; had it been good, they would die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/death-is-an-evil-the-gods-have-so-judged-had-it-been-good-they-would/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [I frowned. “You mean Set’s got, like, other evil gods on speed dial?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-frowned-you-mean-set-s-got-like-other-evil-gods-on-speed-dial/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Good and evil have nothing to do with gods. It has to do with us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-and-evil-have-nothing-to-do-with-gods-it-has-to-do-with-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The wrong thing being?” asks Halwaz. “Closing up their source, of course,” you say, in a tone which implies, “Did you think I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-reeves-mcmillan/the-wrong-thing-being-asks-halwaz-closing-up-their-source-of-course/) [Mike Reeves-McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-reeves-mcmillan/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The ways of the gods are long, but in the end they are not without strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-ways-of-the-gods-are-long-but-in-the-end-they-are-not-without/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The Gods are but names for the forces of Nature themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-gods-are-but-names-for-the-forces-of-nature-themselves/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“. . . In all parts of our globe, fanatics have cut each other's throats, publicly burnt each other, committed without a scruple and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/in-all-parts-of-our-globe-fanatics-have-cut-each-other-s-throats/) [Baron D'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“Have you ever wondered why there are so many Gods and so many religions? It is because in the Land of the Gods, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/have-you-ever-wondered-why-there-are-so-many-gods-and-so-many/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) ## More by Euripides > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Old age is not a total misery. Experience helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/old-age-is-not-a-total-misery-experience-helps/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“What greater sorrow than being forced to leave behind my native earth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/what-greater-sorrow-than-being-forced-to-leave-behind-my-native-earth/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [But woe to him, who left to moan, Reviews the hours of brightness gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/but-woe-to-him-who-left-to-moan-reviews-the-hours-of-brightness-gone/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Dreams of the proud man, making great And greater ever, Things which are not of God. In wide And devious coverts, hunter-wise, He coucheth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dreams-of-the-proud-man-making-great-and-greater-ever-things-which/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is desire in those who love to hear about their loved ones' pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-desire-in-those-who-love-to-hear-about-their-loved-ones-pains/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Soon all of you immortals Will be as dead as we are! Come on then, what are you waiting for? Have you run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/soon-all-of-you-immortals-will-be-as-dead-as-we-are-come-on-then-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is the sky, which is all men's together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-the-sky-which-is-all-men-s-together/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Youth holds no society with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/youth-holds-no-society-with-grief/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Leave no stone unturned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/leave-no-stone-unturned/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) [Explore all 532 Euripides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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