--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They have this social justification for…" description: "\"They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!\" — Fyodor Dostoevsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg" --- # They have this social justification for every nasty thing… ![“They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg) > “They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rationalize harmful actions by cloaking them in moral or societal reasons, masking true intent. **In simple terms:** Moral rationalization of wrongdoing Key Takeaway Justifications can conceal true motives Themes moral rationalization social justification psychology of blame ethical hypocrisy power dynamics Mood cynical skeptical reflective Type aphorism social critique When to use this quote - political propaganda - corporate misconduct - personal betrayal - legal defense - media framing Key Concepts justification morality social pressure self-deception Practical Applications - critical analysis of rhetoric - ethical training modules Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept moral justifications without scrutiny? - How can we differentiate genuine concern from self‑serving rationalization? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Justification Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification-nasty-769576/) [Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasty/) [Nasty Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasty-thing-769578/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justification-769577/) ## Related quotes > [The only nasty thing I like is a nasty groove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/the-only-nasty-thing-i-like-is-a-nasty-groove/) [JoJo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/) > [“The Oompa smiled, and it was a nasty thing to behold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/the-oompa-smiled-and-it-was-a-nasty-thing-to-behold/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [I mean, taking photographs is a very nasty thing to do. It's very cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-armstrong-jones/i-mean-taking-photographs-is-a-very-nasty-thing-to-do-it-s-very-cruel/) [Antony Armstrong-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-armstrong-jones/) > [“You do that, and I take back every nasty thing I've ever said about you." He grinned, his mood changing from serious to wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-do-that-and-i-take-back-every-nasty-thing-i-ve-ever-said-about-2/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [After reading the 'Zux' Fanfic made me cry... Why Did That Directioner EvenWrite that NASTY Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-reading-the-zux-fanfic-made-me-cry-why-did-that-directioner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [Shower on him every blessing, drown him in a sea of happiness, give him economic prosperity such that he should have nothing else to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/shower-on-him-every-blessing-drown-him-in-a-sea-of-happiness-give-him/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Those who love him love that he sells the most art; they take it as a point of faith that this proves Kinkade is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/those-who-love-him-love-that-he-sells-the-most-art-they-take-it-as-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [An excuse is a justification to make the soul feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-baker/an-excuse-is-a-justification-to-make-the-soul-feel-good/) [Regina Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-baker/) > [The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-ultimate-justification-of-the-work-of-art-is-to-help-the/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justification-our-own-works-have-no/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“I have heard several people justify working long hours and getting home from work late it night by saying things like, “I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-have-heard-several-people-justify-working-long-hours-and-getting/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [If memory survived eternally, then indeed there might be justification for a belief in hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/if-memory-survived-eternally-then-indeed-there-might-be-justification/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoevsky > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [... you are a man still young, so to say, in your first youth and so put intellect above everything ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-are-a-man-still-young-so-to-say-in-your-first-youth-and-so-put/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-is-only-one-salvation-for-you-take-yourself-up-and-make/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“It is true I am a complete stranger to these people, but they are not strangers to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/it-is-true-i-am-a-complete-stranger-to-these-people-but-they-are-not/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Everything seems stupid when it fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/everything-seems-stupid-when-it-fails/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-to-throw-yourself-on-the-earth-and-kiss-it-kiss-the-earth-and/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Be the sun and all will see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/be-the-sun-and-all-will-see-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-you-are-penitent-you-love-and-if-you-love-you-are-of-god-all/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“To kill for murder is a punishment incomparably worse than the crime itself. Murder by legal sentence is immeasurably more terrible than murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-kill-for-murder-is-a-punishment-incomparably-worse-than-the-crime/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“You magnify your failure to a crime, Vasya.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-magnify-your-failure-to-a-crime-vasya/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [In a way there's only a fine shade of difference between the healthy and the deranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/in-a-way-there-s-only-a-fine-shade-of-difference-between-the-healthy/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Now answer me, sincerely, honestly, who lives past forty? I'll tell you who does: fools and scoundrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/now-answer-me-sincerely-honestly-who-lives-past-forty-i-ll-tell-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There are crimes that are truly uncomely. With crimes, whatever they may be, the more blood, the more horror there is, the more imposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-are-crimes-that-are-truly-uncomely-with-crimes-whatever-they/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [I want to suffer so that I may love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-want-to-suffer-so-that-i-may-love/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) [Explore all 642 Fyodor Dostoevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## More Justification quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If memory survived eternally, then indeed there might be justification for a belief in hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/if-memory-survived-eternally-then-indeed-there-might-be-justification/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [“I have heard several people justify working long hours and getting home from work late it night by saying things like, “I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-have-heard-several-people-justify-working-long-hours-and-getting/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justification-our-own-works-have-no/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-ultimate-justification-of-the-work-of-art-is-to-help-the/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [An excuse is a justification to make the soul feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-baker/an-excuse-is-a-justification-to-make-the-soul-feel-good/) [Regina Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-baker/) > [Those who love him love that he sells the most art; they take it as a point of faith that this proves Kinkade is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/those-who-love-him-love-that-he-sells-the-most-art-they-take-it-as-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [How could one comfort a disturbed person? He is already assailed with doubts about his faith. He would have to despair with such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-f-w-walther/how-could-one-comfort-a-disturbed-person-he-is-already-assailed-with/) [C. F. W. Walther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-f-w-walther/) > [“Self-justification is the enemy of repentance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/self-justification-is-the-enemy-of-repentance/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [It could never be a correct justification that, because the whites oppressed us yesterday when they had power, that the blacks must oppress them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/it-could-never-be-a-correct-justification-that-because-the-whites/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/while-society-cannot-provide-employment-for-its-members-the/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [“The immoral woman in Luke 7 has the faith to anticipate Christ's forgiveness. She can act in love with no words to justify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-thoman/the-immoral-woman-in-luke-7-has-the-faith-to-anticipate-christ-s/) [Jenn Thoman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-thoman/) [Browse all 748 Justification quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fyodor Dostoevsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justification" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_justification_they-have-this-social-justification-for_55258.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!” — Fyodor Dostoevsky", "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": "Fyodor Dostoevsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They have this social justification for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/#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 } } ] } ```