--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where evil may be done, it is right to…" description: "\"Where evil may be done, it is right to ponder; where only suffered, know the shortest pause is much too long.\" — Hannah More" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/hannah-more-2695_done_where-evil-may-be-done-it-is-right-to-po_1344563.png" --- # Where evil may be done, it is right to ponder; where only… ![“Where evil may be done, it is right to ponder; where only suffered, know the shortest pause is much too long.” quote by Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/hannah-more-2695_done_where-evil-may-be-done-it-is-right-to-po_1344563.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/hannah-more-2695_done_where-evil-may-be-done-it-is-right-to-po_1344563.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/hannah-more-2695_done_where-evil-may-be-done-it-is-right-to-po_1344563.png) > “Where evil may be done, it is right to ponder; where only suffered, know the shortest pause is much too long.” [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates thoughtful reflection before acting on evil and recognizing that suffering makes time feel unbearably long. **In simple terms:** Think before evil; suffering feels endless. Key Takeaway Pause to reflect, then act wisely. Themes ethics reflection time Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - decision making - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When should reflection end? - How does suffering distort time? A Different Perspective Reflection can delay necessary action; overthinking may stall. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-right-511315/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Pause Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pause-long-762934/) [Pauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses/) [Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ponder/) [Ponder Suffered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ponder-suffered-4552299/) [Pondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pondering/) [Right Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-ponder-4552298/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [Never pause unless you have a reason for it, but when you pause, pause as long as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/never-pause-unless-you-have-a-reason-for-it-but-when-you-pause-pause/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [And what is happiness, Nathan? In my experience, it's only a moment's pause here and there on what is otherwise a long and difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kent-krueger/and-what-is-happiness-nathan-in-my-experience-it-s-only-a-moment-s/) [William Kent Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kent-krueger/) > [Whenever you remove any fence, always pause long enough to ask why it was put there in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/whenever-you-remove-any-fence-always-pause-long-enough-to-ask-why-it/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“It is one thing to talk about "the power of silence" and another to be able to pause long enough to enjoy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/it-is-one-thing-to-talk-about-the-power-of-silence-and-another-to-be/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [So much has been given me I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/so-much-has-been-given-me-i-have-no-time-to-ponder-over-that-which/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Ponder just let it happen. It's because their minds are so often involved with deep and problematic matters, he told himself, that their mouths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ponder-just-let-it-happen-it-s-because-their-minds-are-so-often/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Why ponder thus the future to foresee, and jade thy brain to vain perplexity? Cast off thy care, leave Allah’s plans to him –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/why-ponder-thus-the-future-to-foresee-and-jade-thy-brain-to-vain/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/ponder-and-deliberate-before-you-make-a-move/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When walking, you see things that you miss in a motor car or on the train. You give your mind space to ponder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/when-walking-you-see-things-that-you-miss-in-a-motor-car-or-on-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [While we ponder when to begin, it becomes too late to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/while-we-ponder-when-to-begin-it-becomes-too-late-to-do/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Pondering is a little like considering and a little like thinking, but looser. To ponder, one must let the facts roll around the rim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/pondering-is-a-little-like-considering-and-a-little-like-thinking-but/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Everyone needs a place where they can go to just ponder for a while. Silence is important; it's the only time you can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/everyone-needs-a-place-where-they-can-go-to-just-ponder-for-a-while/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [When it comes to strategy, ponder less and do more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-it-comes-to-strategy-ponder-less-and-do-more/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I never ponder counterfactuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-never-ponder-counterfactuals/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“Sitting to think of what to write will only set your ass on fire, give you headache, twist your face to look stupid, instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sitting-to-think-of-what-to-write-will-only-set-your-ass-on-fire-give/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More by Hannah More > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/wisdom-views-with-an-indifferent-eye-all-finite-joys-all-blessings/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [All reformations seem formidable before they are attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/all-reformations-seem-formidable-before-they-are-attempted/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [He who has once taken to drink can seldom be said to be guilty of one sin only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/he-who-has-once-taken-to-drink-can-seldom-be-said-to-be-guilty-of-one/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [We are too ready to imagine that we are religious, because we know something of religion. We appropriate to ourselves the pious sentiments we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/we-are-too-ready-to-imagine-that-we-are-religious-because-we-know/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A corrupt practice may be abolished, but a soiled imagination is not easily cleansed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-corrupt-practice-may-be-abolished-but-a-soiled-imagination-is-not/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A faint endeavor ends in a sure defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-faint-endeavor-ends-in-a-sure-defeat/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Oh! the joy Of young ideas painted on the mind, In the warm glowing colors fancy spreads On objects not yet known, when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/oh-the-joy-of-young-ideas-painted-on-the-mind-in-the-warm-glowing/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The world does not require so much to be informed as to be reminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/the-world-does-not-require-so-much-to-be-informed-as-to-be-reminded/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If we commit any crime, or do any good here, it must be in thought; for our words are few and our deeds none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/if-we-commit-any-crime-or-do-any-good-here-it-must-be-in-thought-for/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [nothing is more common than to mistake the sign for the thing itself; nor is any practice more frequent than that of endeavoring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/nothing-is-more-common-than-to-mistake-the-sign-for-the-thing-itself/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Forgiveness spares the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/forgiveness-spares-the-expense-of-anger-the-cost-of-hatred-the-waste/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [How much it is to be regretted, that the British ladies should ever sit down contented to polish, when they are able to reform;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/how-much-it-is-to-be-regretted-that-the-british-ladies-should-ever/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Who are those ever multiplying authors that with unparalleled fecundity are overstocking the world with their quick succeeding progeny? They are novel-writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/who-are-those-ever-multiplying-authors-that-with-unparalleled/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) [Explore all 154 Hannah More quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. 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