---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ego, after all, was the root of evil."
description: "\"“Ego, after all, was the root of evil.”\" — J. R. Ward"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg"
---

#  Ego, after all, was the root of evil.

![“Ego, after all, was the root of evil.” quote by J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg)

> ““Ego, after all, was the root of evil.””

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

## About This Quote

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

Ego fuels selfishness and harm, making it a primary source of evil actions.

**In simple terms:** Ego drives harmful selfishness.

Key Takeaway

Temper ego to reduce harm.

Themes

ego evil selfishness morality spiritual

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- personal ambition
- political power
- social media behavior

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does ego influence your decisions?
- Can ego be redirected for good?

A Different Perspective

Ego can also motivate positive achievement if channeled.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ego Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-root-4541738/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/root/) [Root Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/root-evil/)

## Related quotes

> [The Ego is the root of all Evil. Once the Ego is removed only then are we able to view the world with Pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-long/the-ego-is-the-root-of-all-evil-once-the-ego-is-removed-only-then-are/)

[Sonny Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-long/)

> [Okay, were talking about the root of all evil. (Money) Never put it before God or your people &amp; never let it come between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-garcia/okay-were-talking-about-the-root-of-all-evil-money-never-put-it/)

[Chad Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-garcia/)

> [“EGO, IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ENMITY.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/ego-is-the-root-cause-of-enmity/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [Poverty is the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheikh-hasina/poverty-is-the-root-of-all-evil/)

[Sheikh Hasina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheikh-hasina/)

> [If money the root of all evil,so what does that make me???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clue/if-money-the-root-of-all-evil-so-what-does-that-make-me/)

[Clue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clue/)

> [Perhaps this is the root of all evil, that gardeners are not put in charge of our schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/perhaps-this-is-the-root-of-all-evil-that-gardeners-are-not-put-in/)

[Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/)

> [“Beauvoir knew that the root of all evil wasn’t money. No, what created and drove evil was fear. Fear of not having enough money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/beauvoir-knew-that-the-root-of-all-evil-wasn-t-money-no-what-created/)

[Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/)

> [ “COKANE \[looking compassionately at him\] Ah, my dear fellow, the love of money is the root of all evil. LICKCHEESE. Yes, sir; and we’d… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/cokane-looking-compassionately-at-him-ah-my-dear-fellow-the-love-of/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [They say money is the root of all evil. Still its the key to a successful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-still-its-the-key-to-a/)

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

> [It has beeen said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The want of money is so quite as truly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-beeen-said-that-the-love-of-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-the/)

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

> [Nicky Santoro, money don't bend. Root of all evil, guess my bank is full of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/nicky-santoro-money-don-t-bend-root-of-all-evil-guess-my-bank-is-full/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Pchem is the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pchem-is-the-root-of-all-evil/)

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

> [Money the root of all evil, unless used for good purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/money-the-root-of-all-evil-unless-used-for-good-purpose/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [“15. “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1Timothy 6:10, KJV). That’s why Jesus issues more warnings about materialism and wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-dobson/15-the-love-of-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-1timothy-6-10-kjv-that-s/)

[James C. Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-dobson/)

> [If you say that money is God, then you should also remember that it is also the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-say-that-money-is-god-then-you-should-also-remember-that-it-is/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

## More by J. R. Ward

> [“I'm not into sluts. Our tradition says you honor your body by sharing it only with someone you are halved with. Guess I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/i-m-not-into-sluts-our-tradition-says-you-honor-your-body-by-sharing/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Ehric frowned as he peeled a Post-It note off the package. "Preheat to three seventy-five." His brother went to the wall ovens and began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/ehric-frowned-as-he-peeled-a-post-it-note-off-the-package-preheat-to/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Where do humans meet for normal dates?’ How the hell would she know? Except then she remembered Mary saying something about a colleague of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/where-do-humans-meet-for-normal-dates-how-the-hell-would-she-know/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“The thing was, Qhuinn felt like he wanted to explain things. Unfortunately, and unlike his slut cousin, Saxton the Cocksucker, he had no gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/the-thing-was-qhuinn-felt-like-he-wanted-to-explain-things/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“she had nothing now that the fantasy was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/she-had-nothing-now-that-the-fantasy-was-gone/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Beth had never been one of those girls who'd imagined her wedding. Acted it out with some barbies. Bought Bride magazine as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/beth-had-never-been-one-of-those-girls-who-d-imagined-her-wedding/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Beth,” he whispered. “Come back to me.” He brought more of his blood to her. “Damn it, don’t you die!” Candles flared in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/beth-he-whispered-come-back-to-me-he-brought-more-of-his-blood-to-her/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“He wanted to see her eat. After the sex, after he came inside her, he wanted to have her eat food he'd bought her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/he-wanted-to-see-her-eat-after-the-sex-after-he-came-inside-her-he/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“She shut the door and moved on to the floor-to-ceiling cabinets. “There is nothing here. Nothing. What do you eat?” “Ah…” Assail found himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/she-shut-the-door-and-moved-on-to-the-floor-to-ceiling-cabinets-there/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“You feel me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/you-feel-me/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Så i dette forferdelige øyeblikket i ekteskapet sitt klamret han seg av alle krefter til støvsugerens vuggesang mens han lurte på om han noen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/s-i-dette-forferdelige-yeblikket-i-ekteskapet-sitt-klamret-han-seg-av/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“Er det sant at du gjorde rent i huset mitt?” spurte hun. Å pokker… Det eneste svaret han hadde på det, var alt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/er-det-sant-at-du-gjorde-rent-i-huset-mitt-spurte-hun-pokker-det/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“a leader should never delegate that which he had not done before and done well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/a-leader-should-never-delegate-that-which-he-had-not-done-before-and/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“I'm sorry," he muttered. "If I... uh, hurt your feelings or something." She glared at him. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed off and sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/i-m-sorry-he-muttered-if-i-uh-hurt-your-feelings-or-something-she/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

> [“V blunket et par ganger, kjente seg beklemt over det han skulle til å si. “Du er en helgen, vet du det? Du har…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/v-blunket-et-par-ganger-kjente-seg-beklemt-over-det-han-skulle-til-si/)

[J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

[Explore all 22 J. R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/)

## More Evil quotes

> [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/)

[Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/)

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [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/)

> [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/)

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

> [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/)

[James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/)

> [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/)

[Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/)

> [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/)

[Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/)

[Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Ego, after all, was the root of evil.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. R. Ward"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Evil"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/j-r-ward-2-25778_evil_ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil-23542_2354271.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ego, after all, was the root of evil.” — J. R. Ward",
                "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": "J. R. Ward",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Ego, after all, was the root...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/ego-after-all-was-the-root-of-evil/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
