---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have the belief that truly evil people…"
description: "\"I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the landscape of some of the characters I've pla..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg"
---

#  I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic…

![“I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the landscape of some of the characters I've played that people have labeled as evil; I don't think they're evil.” quote by Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg)

> “I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the landscape of some of the characters I've played that people have labeled as evil; I don't think they're evil.”

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker argues that evil is not innate but a label, suggesting behavior is shaped by context and perception.

**In simple terms:** Evil is a social label, not a genetic trait.

Key Takeaway

Challenge assumptions about inherent evil.

Themes

morality labeling psychology

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical interview

When to use this quote

- social judgment
- media portrayal
- ethical debate

Key Concepts

nature vs nurture character analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- Do we label others without full understanding?
- What shapes a person's actions?

A Different Perspective

Genetic determinism oversimplifies complex behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-people/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [“truly evil people, with all their malice and hatred, pose far less of a threat to mankind than the basically good people who believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larken-rose/truly-evil-people-with-all-their-malice-and-hatred-pose-far-less-of-a/)

[Larken Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larken-rose/)

> [The people who did this act on America, and who may be planning further acts, are evil people. They don't represent an ideology, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-people-who-did-this-act-on-america-and-who-may-be-planning/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Truly it is an evil to be full of faults; but it is a still greater evil to be full of them and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/truly-it-is-an-evil-to-be-full-of-faults-but-it-is-a-still-greater-2/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“Oh my God. Regret cake? Whatever was about to happen must be truly evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/oh-my-god-regret-cake-whatever-was-about-to-happen-must-be-truly-evil-2/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [ “Oh my God. Regret cake? Whatever was about to happen must be truly evil. \[Sophie\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/oh-my-god-regret-cake-whatever-was-about-to-happen-must-be-truly-evil/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [In order for a man to be truly evil, he must be a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-for-a-man-to-be-truly-evil-he-must-be-a-woman/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Very few people see their own actions as truly evil,... It is left to their victims to decide what is evil and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/very-few-people-see-their-own-actions-as-truly-evil-it-is-left-to/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“I don't think we are cut out to be evil sorcerers, brothers," said Fentongoose. "If we were truly evil, we would not feel such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-reeve/i-don-t-think-we-are-cut-out-to-be-evil-sorcerers-brothers-said/)

[Philip Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-reeve/)

> [“I will be the lord of traveling salesmen!” “That,” I said, “is truly evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-will-be-the-lord-of-traveling-salesmen-that-i-said-is-truly-evil/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Truly it is an evil to be full of faults; but it is a still greater evil to be full of them and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/truly-it-is-an-evil-to-be-full-of-faults-but-it-is-a-still-greater/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“In my experience, the truly evil are few and good people, with the very best of intentions, often make very bad decisions and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isla-j-bick/in-my-experience-the-truly-evil-are-few-and-good-people-with-the-very/)

Isla J. Bick

> [The most unrealistic thing I've ever read in comics is when some group of characters calls themselves the Brotherhood of Evil or the Masters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wein/the-most-unrealistic-thing-i-ve-ever-read-in-comics-is-when-some/)

[Len Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wein/)

> [“Let's just say you may regret that second piece of cake.' Oh my God. Regret cake? Whatever was about to happen must be truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/let-s-just-say-you-may-regret-that-second-piece-of-cake-oh-my-god/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“There may come a time when even the most peaceful man alive has to fight or else something truly evil will happen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-klavan/there-may-come-a-time-when-even-the-most-peaceful-man-alive-has-to/)

[Andrew Klavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-klavan/)

> [Exploring and colonizing Mars can bring us new scientific understanding of climate change, of how planet-wide processes can make a warm and wet world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/exploring-and-colonizing-mars-can-bring-us-new-scientific/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

## More by Glenn Close

> [Love makes no sense at all. But it's the most powerful and amazing force in the entire universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/love-makes-no-sense-at-all-but-it-s-the-most-powerful-and-amazing/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I love Ron Howard, he's a wonderful director, incredibly prepared. But I have to criticize my performance in that movie. It all took place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-love-ron-howard-he-s-a-wonderful-director-incredibly-prepared-but-i/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [As an actor, I go where the good writing is. That's the bottom line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/as-an-actor-i-go-where-the-good-writing-is-that-s-the-bottom-line/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I don't have the body or the face for romantic comedies, so I've never been offered those. The challenge is that a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-don-t-have-the-body-or-the-face-for-romantic-comedies-so-i-ve-never/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I'm not a natural ocean person. I married into a family of swimmers, and I've slowly been drawn into the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-m-not-a-natural-ocean-person-i-married-into-a-family-of-swimmers/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [When you're on the set, and sometimes, because it's been so complex and the writers have been really writing, sometimes up until the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/when-you-re-on-the-set-and-sometimes-because-it-s-been-so-complex-and/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I've often been mistaken for Meryl Streep, although never on Oscar night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-ve-often-been-mistaken-for-meryl-streep-although-never-on-oscar/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I had a great time on The Shield. From working on it I have a totally different view of law enforcement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-had-a-great-time-on-the-shield-from-working-on-it-i-have-a-totally/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [Taking power away from a man is a dangerous thing. Someone always pays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/taking-power-away-from-a-man-is-a-dangerous-thing-someone-always-pays/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [My fellow actors inspire me a lot and really good writing inspires me. And then trying to stick to the decision to only do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/my-fellow-actors-inspire-me-a-lot-and-really-good-writing-inspires-me/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [You have to love the characters you play, even if no one else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/you-have-to-love-the-characters-you-play-even-if-no-one-else-does/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I get bored talking about myself, but I can talk about the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-get-bored-talking-about-myself-but-i-can-talk-about-the-work/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I've always felt that an independent film is a film that almost doesn't get made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-ve-always-felt-that-an-independent-film-is-a-film-that-almost-doesn/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I'm fascinated by the First World War because it was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and it was the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-m-fascinated-by-the-first-world-war-because-it-was-supposed-to-be/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I knew the term Stepford Wife, and I knew what that meant. I never read the book, and I think before I started filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-knew-the-term-stepford-wife-and-i-knew-what-that-meant-i-never-read/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

[Explore all 84 Glenn Close quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

## More Belief quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“MIND &amp; GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [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/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/)

[Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/)

> [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/)

> [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/)

[David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [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/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/)

[J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

[Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the landscape of some of the characters I've played that people have labeled as evil; I don't think they're evil.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Glenn Close"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people-it-s-a-genetic-evil-i-only/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belief"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people-it-s-a-genetic-evil-i-only/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/glenn-close-8097_belief_i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people_1303514.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the…” — Glenn Close",
                "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": "Glenn Close",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have the belief that truly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people-it-s-a-genetic-evil-i-only/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-have-the-belief-that-truly-evil-people-it-s-a-genetic-evil-i-only/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
