--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call evil, it seems to me, is…" description: "\"What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance bumping its head in the dark.\" — Henry Ford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png" --- # What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance… ![“What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance bumping its head in the dark.” quote by Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png) > “What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance bumping its head in the dark.” [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil is often just ignorance acting blindly, not a supernatural force. **In simple terms:** Evil equals ignorance acting blindly. Key Takeaway Combat ignorance with education. Themes evil ignorance knowledge humanity Mood hopeful inquisitive Type ethical educational When to use this quote - education reform - public policy - personal development Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to illuminate darkness? - How does knowledge change moral perception? A Different Perspective Ignorance can be will, but not always. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-simply-567004/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Bumping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-bumping-808213/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Simply Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-ignorance-808212/) ## Related quotes > [The innocence which is simply ignorance is not virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-innocence-which-is-simply-ignorance-is-not-virtue/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [The savage lives simply through ignorance and idleness or laziness, but the philosopher lives simply through wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-savage-lives-simply-through-ignorance-and-idleness-or-laziness/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Boredom comes simply from ignorance and lack of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/boredom-comes-simply-from-ignorance-and-lack-of-imagination/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [To argue that the gaps in knowledge which confront the seeker must be filled, not by patient inquiry, but by intuition or revelation, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-argue-that-the-gaps-in-knowledge-which-confront-the-seeker-must-be/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I believe that much of the maladjustment in our societies is caused, not by malevolence and corruption, but simply by ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-highet/i-believe-that-much-of-the-maladjustment-in-our-societies-is-caused/) [Gilbert Highet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-highet/) > [“Evil? What is that? ...You said you were death itself. Are you evil, then, or are you simply stronger and more awake than others?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luceno/evil-what-is-that-you-said-you-were-death-itself-are-you-evil-then-or/) [James Luceno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luceno/) > [“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/) > [People do evil simply because they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheng-yi/people-do-evil-simply-because-they-do-not-know/) [Cheng Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheng-yi/) > [Yes, of course it's fun to play evil, but it's simply fun to play any different characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cassidy/yes-of-course-it-s-fun-to-play-evil-but-it-s-simply-fun-to-play-any/) [Katie Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cassidy/) > [“God never cooperates with evil. He simply offers us the opportunity to transform the painful experiences in our lives into advantages and blessings. (Fr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyriacos-c-markides/god-never-cooperates-with-evil-he-simply-offers-us-the-opportunity-to/) [Kyriacos C. Markides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyriacos-c-markides/) > [To claim that theft or adultery or lying are "evil" simply reflects our degraded idea of good-—that it has something to do with respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/to-claim-that-theft-or-adultery-or-lying-are-evil-simply-reflects-our/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-were-moments-when-he-looked-on-evil-simply-as-a-mode-through/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Evil is simply the word for what someone else won't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goode/evil-is-simply-the-word-for-what-someone-else-won-t-do/) [John Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goode/) > [Evil is simply a grammatical error: a failure to leap the precipice between "he" and "I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-pastan/evil-is-simply-a-grammatical-error-a-failure-to-leap-the-precipice/) [Linda Pastan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-pastan/) > [The population at large is neither 'ordinary' or 'normal'. They seem to be bound together by a collective ignorance of themselves and what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-nilsen/the-population-at-large-is-neither-ordinary-or-normal-they-seem-to-be/) [Dennis Nilsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-nilsen/) ## More by Henry Ford > [Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/enthusiasm-is-the-yeast-that-makes-your-hopes-shine-to-the-stars/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/these-men-of-many-nations-must-be-taught-american-ways-the-english/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [A man's college and university degrees mean nothing to me until I see what he is able to do with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-man-s-college-and-university-degrees-mean-nothing-to-me-until-i-see/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Don't find the fault, find the remedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/don-t-find-the-fault-find-the-remedy/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [A customer votes everyday with his dollar. Our job is make sure he votes for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-customer-votes-everyday-with-his-dollar-our-job-is-make-sure-he/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Our clothing, our food, our household furnishings - all could be much simpler than they now are and at the same time be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/our-clothing-our-food-our-household-furnishings-all-could-be-much/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [The time is coming when man will be able to determine the length of his lifespan by controlling his diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-is-coming-when-man-will-be-able-to-determine-the-length-of/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do. It's simple, fantasize, rehearse, then go out into the world and DO IT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/you-can-t-build-a-reputation-on-what-you-re-going-to-do-it-s-simple/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [There is no man living that can not do more than he thinks he can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/there-is-no-man-living-that-can-not-do-more-than-he-thinks-he-can/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Without doubt, Thomas Edison is my greatest contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/without-doubt-thomas-edison-is-my-greatest-contemporary/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [As long as we look to legislation to cure poverty or to abolish special privilege we are going to see poverty and special privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/as-long-as-we-look-to-legislation-to-cure-poverty-or-to-abolish/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [The time will come when man will know even what is going on in the other planets and perhaps be able to visit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-will-come-when-man-will-know-even-what-is-going-on-in-the/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) [Explore all 517 Henry Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## More Dark quotes > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/) [J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/) > [The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-zimmerman/the-soul-wanders-in-the-dark-until-it-finds-love-and-so-wherever-our/) [Mary Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-zimmerman/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“what do you call/that space between the dark geographies of sex?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethaway/what-do-you-call-that-space-between-the-dark-geographies-of-sex/) [Natasha Trethaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethaway/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) > [Even in the dark your shadow is like a guide to me! you are my rising sun that brings forth hope just as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-in-the-dark-your-shadow-is-like-a-guide-to-me-you-are-my-rising/) [Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/) [Browse all 10,198 Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance bumping its head in the dark.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Ford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simply-ignorance-bumping-its-head/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dark" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simply-ignorance-bumping-its-head/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/henry-ford-492_dark_what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simp_2475734.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we call evil, it seems to me, is simply ignorance bumping its head in the dark.” — Henry Ford", "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": "Henry Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we call evil, it seems...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simply-ignorance-bumping-its-head/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/what-we-call-evil-it-seems-to-me-is-simply-ignorance-bumping-its-head/#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 } } ] } ```