Catholic Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““An ultimately evil job. For we are attempting to conquer Sauron with the Ring. And we shall (it seems) succeed. But the penalty is, as you will know, to breed new Saurons, and slowly turn Men and Elves into Orcs. Not that in real life things are as clear cut as in a story, and we started out with a great many Orcs on our side. (letter 66)””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Personal Correspondence, 1935
Attempting to defeat evil can unintentionally create more evil, blurring moral clarity.
In simple terms: Fighting evil may spawn new evil.
Key Takeaway
Consider unintended consequences of actions.
Themes
ethics
power
unintended consequences
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- political decisions
- environmental policies
- technological development
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
strategic planning
Questions to Reflect On
- Can good intentions lead to harmful outcomes?
- How to balance action with foresight?
A Different Perspective
The analogy oversimplifies complex real-world dynamics.
![“The young man [Turgot] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his studies, his reading, his professors, his associates, all were combined to keep from him any results of observation or reflection save those…” quote by Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d4/andrew-dickson-white-24254_associates_the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecc_3146.jpg)
![“Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his [Jesus] paths by the guidance of the Gospel.” quote by Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a2f/benedict-of-nursia-29376_catholic_girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of_6463.jpg)
