--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't ascribe to evil what can be…" description: "\"Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.\" — James A. Owen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/james-a-owen-12781_evil_don-t-ascribe-to-evil-what-can-be-attrib_2380424.png" --- # Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to… ![“Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.” quote by James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/james-a-owen-12781_evil_don-t-ascribe-to-evil-what-can-be-attrib_2380424.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/james-a-owen-12781_evil_don-t-ascribe-to-evil-what-can-be-attrib_2380424.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/james-a-owen-12781_evil_don-t-ascribe-to-evil-what-can-be-attrib_2380424.png) > “Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.” [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should attribute negative outcomes to well‑intentioned stupidity rather than malevolent evil. **In simple terms:** Blame mistakes on foolishness, not evil. Key Takeaway Seek understanding before assigning malice. Themes ethics mistakes intent Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - conflict resolution - organizational failures - personal disputes Key Concepts moral philosophy human error Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate between stupidity and evil? - What steps prevent well‑meaning errors? A Different Perspective Not all harmful acts stem from ignorance; some are truly malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ascribe Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ascribe-evil-5893621/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Attributed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-attributed-5893622/) [Intentioned Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentioned-stupidity-5893620/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [One should not ascribe the evil deeds of individual leaders or political regimes to an innate fault of the Russian people and their country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/one-should-not-ascribe-the-evil-deeds-of-individual-leaders-or/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [It is much easier for good to deal with evil than it is for good to deal with stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-much-easier-for-good-to-deal-with-evil-than-it-is-for-good-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why was is that the Light acted through lies, and the Darkness acted though the truth? Why was is that our truth proved powerless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/why-was-is-that-the-light-acted-through-lies-and-the-darkness-acted/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-that-looks-evil-don-t-smear-it-with/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [What is stupidity? It is when you still communicating the person you need to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-angela/what-is-stupidity-it-is-when-you-still-communicating-the-person-you/) [Kara Angela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-angela/) > [Smart people don't carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/smart-people-don-t-carry-the-weight-of-the-world-on-their-shoulders/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [You can never understand why people do stupid things for love, Unless you, yourself experience how it is to be in LOVE...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-never-understand-why-people-do-stupid-things-for-love-unless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [It is unfortunate to consider all lawyers as natural Satanists many are just dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-unfortunate-to-consider-all-lawyers-as-natural-satanists-many/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [“But no idiot-proofing can overcome a determined idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/but-no-idiot-proofing-can-overcome-a-determined-idiot/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wouldn't have to manage my anger if only people could learn how to manage their stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wouldn-t-have-to-manage-my-anger-if-only-people-could-learn-how-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [“(Quoting her friend Tom Black on an amateur hunter's injury:) "Lion, rifles -- and stupidity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/quoting-her-friend-tom-black-on-an-amateur-hunter-s-injury-lion/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) ## More by James A. Owen > [Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want the most at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/never-ever-sacrifice-what-you-want-the-most-for-what-you-want-the/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/it-is-the-world-my-boy-he-said-all-the-world-in-ink-and-blood-vellum/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“My name is Samaranth,” said the great red beast, “and all those you see around you declined my invitation, opting instead to help themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/my-name-is-samaranth-said-the-great-red-beast-and-all-those-you-see/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“The Cavelries hear and their short and furrie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/the-cavelries-hear-and-their-short-and-furrie/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-m-a-conundrum-or-an-enigma-i-forget-which/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Discipline, Norah. If you're going to taunt them, remember to stick out your tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/discipline-norah-if-you-re-going-to-taunt-them-remember-to-stick-out/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Our weaknesses are always evident, both to ourselves and others. But our strengths are hidden until we choose to reveal them--and that is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/our-weaknesses-are-always-evident-both-to-ourselves-and-others-but/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [If I can't joke about imminent death, then I might as well just resign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/if-i-can-t-joke-about-imminent-death-then-i-might-as-well-just-resign/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [That isn't a desperate act. That's a PLAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-isn-t-a-desperate-act-that-s-a-plan/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“I cannot be defeated, because you are not my opponent. I cannot lose, because I am not fighting. And in the end, all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-cannot-be-defeated-because-you-are-not-my-opponent-i-cannot-lose/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Always, always ask for what you want. Because the Universe might surprise you — and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/always-always-ask-for-what-you-want-because-the-universe-might/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.' How do you figure that?' said Charles. Well,' said Tummeler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/simple-tummeler-replied-blueberries-is-one-of-the-great-forces-o-good/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“A really well-done first draft of a book bares your soul. The purpose of revision is so that everyone who reads the published version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/a-really-well-done-first-draft-of-a-book-bares-your-soul-the-purpose/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“That's one benefit of travelling to your own future, and making the trip part of your past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-s-one-benefit-of-travelling-to-your-own-future-and-making-the/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“That's a shame," said Bert, "to run out of crackers before you've run out of emergency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-s-a-shame-said-bert-to-run-out-of-crackers-before-you-ve-run-out/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) [Explore all 50 James A. Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) ## 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": "Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James A. 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