Evil Quote by Immanuel Kant
“But a lie is a lie, and in itself intrinsically evil, whether it be told with good or bad intents.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785
Kant asserts that lying is inherently wrong, regardless of the speaker’s intentions, because it violates moral duty.
In simple terms: Lying is always morally wrong.
Key Takeaway
Avoid deceit in all forms.
Themes
ethics
honesty
morality
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal testimony
- personal relationships
- professional conduct
Key Concepts
deontology
universal law
intentionality
Questions to Reflect On
- Is a lie ever morally permissible?
- How does intent affect moral judgment?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that lying can be justified to prevent greater harm.
![“[...] no one had lived up to the roles they acted out in public. They wasted their years trying to live the lies that they had created for themselves. Only in private could they really be the demons, hypocrites and sinners they really were, and woe betide anyone who caught them at their game…” quote by Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/de2/marilyn-manson-565_lie-is-a-lie_no-one-had-lived-up-to-the-roles-they-ac_1810863.jpg)
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
