--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is well, I think, for us to learn to…" description: "\"“It is well, I think, for us to learn to tell evil from good; but it has its price, as everything does. We leave our evil friend behind.”\" — Gene Wolfe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/gene-wolfe-2530_friendship_it-is-well-i-think-for-us-to-learn-to-te_1846812.jpg" --- # It is well, I think, for us to learn to tell evil from… ![“It is well, I think, for us to learn to tell evil from good; but it has its price, as everything does. We leave our evil friend behind.” quote by Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/gene-wolfe-2530_friendship_it-is-well-i-think-for-us-to-learn-to-te_1846812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/gene-wolfe-2530_friendship_it-is-well-i-think-for-us-to-learn-to-te_1846812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/gene-wolfe-2530_friendship_it-is-well-i-think-for-us-to-learn-to-te_1846812.jpg) > ““It is well, I think, for us to learn to tell evil from good; but it has its price, as everything does. We leave our evil friend behind.”” [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning to discern right from wrong carries a cost, yet it is necessary; abandoning harmful influences is part of that process. **In simple terms:** Distinguishing good and evil costs something; we must leave bad friends. Key Takeaway Accept the cost of moral clarity and let go of toxic relationships. Themes ethics growth relationships Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - friendship choices - ethical dilemmas - self‑reflection Key Concepts moral discernment personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance moral discernment with compassion? - When is it right to cut ties? A Different Perspective The price may outweigh benefits if applied rigidly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) ## Related quotes > [“As Christian they said we need to be good and Holy to the eyes of the unbeliever, and if fighting for the liberty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darwin-araman-ergina/as-christian-they-said-we-need-to-be-good-and-holy-to-the-eyes-of-the/) [darwin araman ergina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darwin-araman-ergina/) > [“It was granted me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-granted-me-to-carry-away-from-my-prison-years-on-my-bent-back/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“Tell me, is it evil to simply try to control your own life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/tell-me-is-it-evil-to-simply-try-to-control-your-own-life/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [An pretend and evil friend is haughty to be feared than a unmanageable beast; a unmanageable beast may mouthful your build up, but an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/an-pretend-and-evil-friend-is-haughty-to-be-feared-than-a/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Being insincere and having an evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romel-elien/being-insincere-and-having-an-evil-friend-is-more-to-be-feared-than-a/) [Romel Elien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romel-elien/) > [An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may would your body, but an evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-insincere-and-evil-friend-is-more-to-be-feared-than-a-wild-beast-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-tyler/an-insincere-and-evil-friend-is-more-to-be-feared-than-a-wild-beast-a/) [Aisha Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-tyler/) > [“When you were a child, I didn't tell you about the evil in the world, all that lay in wait.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/when-you-were-a-child-i-didn-t-tell-you-about-the-evil-in-the-world/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [Caring was the only thing I ever did when we were friends. The minute you turned your back is the minute I realized I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetangelunknown/caring-was-the-only-thing-i-ever-did-when-we-were-friends-the-minute/) SweetangelUnknown > [“Why didn't you tell me that evil could be so lighthearted?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-peterson-haddix/why-didn-t-you-tell-me-that-evil-could-be-so-lighthearted/) [Margaret Peterson Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-peterson-haddix/) > [“LUCIFER: They say what they must sing and say on pain Of being that which I am and thou art-- Of spirits and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/lucifer-they-say-what-they-must-sing-and-say-on-pain-of-being-that/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [So certainly, if we can tell evil stories to make people sick, we can also tell good myths that make them well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-werner-fassbinder/so-certainly-if-we-can-tell-evil-stories-to-make-people-sick-we-can/) [Rainer Werner Fassbinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-werner-fassbinder/) > [“Have you ever asked yourself, where do Evil come from? No? But many ask the question, and I’ll tell you where there is Evil.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biyuts/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-where-do-evil-come-from-no-but-many-ask/) [Lara Biyuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biyuts/) > [If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/acdc/if-you-re-into-evil-you-re-a-friend-of-mine/) [ACDC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/acdc/) > [“Tell Evil men of your sins and they will use it against you Tell a sinner of your sins and they will pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-tareyton/tell-evil-men-of-your-sins-and-they-will-use-it-against-you-tell-a/) [Criss Tareyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-tareyton/) ## More by Gene Wolfe > [Some writers say they cannot write in front of a window; many say they cannot function without almost perfect quiet. A writer with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/some-writers-say-they-cannot-write-in-front-of-a-window-many-say-they/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“Sometimes driven aground by the photon storms, by the swirling of the galaxies, clockwise and counterclockwise, ticking with light down the dark sea-corridors lined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/sometimes-driven-aground-by-the-photon-storms-by-the-swirling-of-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [Ambiguity is necessary in some of my stories, not in all. In those, it certainly contributes to the richness of the story. I doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/ambiguity-is-necessary-in-some-of-my-stories-not-in-all-in-those-it/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“There are beings—and artifacts—against which we batter our intelligence raw, and in the end make peace with reality only by saying, “It was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/there-are-beings-and-artifacts-against-which-we-batter-our/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [Science has so accustomed us to devising and accepting theories to account for the facts we observe, however fantastic, that our minds must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/science-has-so-accustomed-us-to-devising-and-accepting-theories-to/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“The experienced feel love or desire, or both. The inexperienced are sick with a thousand feelings, most of them unformed: fearful that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-experienced-feel-love-or-desire-or-both-the-inexperienced-are/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“For those who have never attended a science fiction convention, masquerades are features of most of the larger ones. Awards are presented for best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/for-those-who-have-never-attended-a-science-fiction-convention/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“He had a wild yellow beard and long, tangled hair that stood out from his head in a way that made it seem too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/he-had-a-wild-yellow-beard-and-long-tangled-hair-that-stood-out-from/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [ ...in some situations winning consist\[s\] of disentangling oneself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/in-some-situations-winning-consist-s-of-disentangling-oneself/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“For after all, if the lives of most men are examined in detail, it will be found that they have been experts of immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/for-after-all-if-the-lives-of-most-men-are-examined-in-detail-it-will/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/you-never-learn-how-to-write-a-novel-you-just-learn-how-to-write-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/there-is-no-magic-there-is-only-knowledge-more-or-less-hidden/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“...the progress of science depends much less upon either theoretical considerations or systematic investigation than is commonly believed, but rather on the transmittal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-progress-of-science-depends-much-less-upon-either-theoretical/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“Whatever we may say, all of us suffer from disturbed sleep at times. Some in truth hardly sleep, though some who sleep copiously swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/whatever-we-may-say-all-of-us-suffer-from-disturbed-sleep-at-times/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“. . .Consciousness came and went. Consciousness went and came like the errant winds of spring, and I, who so often have had difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/consciousness-came-and-went-consciousness-went-and-came-like-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) [Explore all 160 Gene Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## 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. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is well, I think, for us to learn to tell evil from good; but it has its price, as everything does. 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