---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The magnitude of this evil among us is so…"
description: "\"The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfac..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png"
---

#  The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and…

![“The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfactory remedy for it.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png)

> “The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfactory remedy for it.”

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

## 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 pervasive; the greatest moral achievement is creating an effective solution.

**In simple terms:** Evil is widespread; solving it is the highest good.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize creating solutions to deep problems.

Themes

ethics society problem solving morality leadership

Mood

reflective serious

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- legislative debates
- community activism
- policy design

Key Concepts

public policy justice collective responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What constitutes a satisfactory remedy?
- Can all evils be addressed equally?

A Different Perspective

Solutions may be idealistic without practical feasibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Remedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remedy/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/)

## Related quotes

> [“I cannot grasp the magnitude of your evil” “Proof that you lack imagination”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/i-cannot-grasp-the-magnitude-of-your-evil-proof-that-you-lack/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [The idea of anyone contemplating our family and witnessing the affection that we all have for one another and seeing evil in it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-idea-of-anyone-contemplating-our-family-and-witnessing-the/)

[Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/)

> [American citizens are instrumental in carrying on a traffic in enslaved Africans, equally in violation of the laws of humanity and in defiance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/american-citizens-are-instrumental-in-carrying-on-a-traffic-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single girl in possesion of a pashon for fashon, must be in want of an audiance!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-vogel-frederick/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-single-girl-in-2/)

[Heather Vogel Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-vogel-frederick/)

> [“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a sane employee in possession of his wits must be in want of a good manager.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-sane-employee-in/)

[Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/)

> [It is a truth universally acknowledged that secrets are toxic and break up families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-ridley/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-secrets-are-toxic-and/)

[Jane Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-ridley/)

> [The constituents of tragedy may be universally acknowledged, easily invoked and deeply felt, but the elements of comedy are, I think, more widely variable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-constituents-of-tragedy-may-be-universally-acknowledged-easily/)

[Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/)

> [It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that there is no passion so deeply rooted in human nature as that of pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-edmonstone-ferrier/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-there-is-no-passion-so/)

[Susan Edmonstone Ferrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-edmonstone-ferrier/)

> [“It is truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of a large fortune is in want of a wife!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-man-in-possession-of-a/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [“It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-when-one-part-of-your/)

[Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/)

> [“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-single-man-in-2/)

[Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/)

> [“It's a truth universally acknowledged...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-s-a-truth-universally-acknowledged/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [It is a truth universally acknowledged that one only comes up with clever, cutting remarks long after the other party is happily slumbering away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-one-only-comes-up-with/)

[Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/)

> [Men almost universally have acknowledged providence, but that fact has had no force to destroy natural aversions and fears in the presence of events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/men-almost-universally-have-acknowledged-providence-but-that-fact-has/)

[George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/)

> [“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single girl in possession of her right mind must be in want of a decent man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-potter/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-single-girl-in/)

[Alexandra Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-potter/)

## More by James Madison

> [“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/knowledge-will-forever-govern-ignorance-and-a-people-who-mean-to-be/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/rulers-who-wished-to-subvert-the-public-liberty-may-have-found-an/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-powers-delegated-by-the-proposed-constitution-to-the-federal/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [ It is certain that every class is interested in \[educational\] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-interested-in-educational/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/since-it-is-impossible-for-the-people-spontaneously-and-universally/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-definition-of-the-right-of-suffrage-is-very-justly-regarded-as-a/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-future-and-success-of-america-is-not-in-this-constitution-but-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/they-can-make-no-law-which-will-not-have-its-full-operation-on/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-effect-of-a-representative-democracy-is-to-refine-and-enlarge-the/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-besides-the-danger-of-a-direct-mixture-of-religion-civil/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-a-reflection-on-human-nature-that-such-devices-should-be/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-better-proof-of-reverence-for-that-holy-name-would-be-not-to/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Explore all 628 James Madison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

## More Devising quotes

> [Computer Science is a science of abstraction -creating the right model for a problem and devising the appropriate mechanizable techniques to solve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-aho/computer-science-is-a-science-of-abstraction-creating-the-right-model/)

Alfred Aho

> [I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-am-often-thought-of-as-being-remarkably-bright-and-yet-my-brains/)

[Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/)

> [Science has so accustomed us to devising and accepting theories to account for the facts we observe, however fantastic, that our minds must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/science-has-so-accustomed-us-to-devising-and-accepting-theories-to/)

[Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/)

> [ God does not play dice \[with the universe\]. \[Ger., Gott wurfelt nicht.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/god-does-not-play-dice-with-the-universe-ger-gott-wurfelt-nicht/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Work outside of school hours was a necessity at an early age, and with such time as I had I turned toward interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-carlson/work-outside-of-school-hours-was-a-necessity-at-an-early-age-and-with/)

Chester Carlson

> [There is the happiness which comes from creative effort. The joy of dreaming, creating, building, whether in painting a picture, writing an epic, singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/there-is-the-happiness-which-comes-from-creative-effort-the-joy-of/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [With support from institutions like the United Nations as well as the donor community, governments can strengthen their national technological and scientific capacities by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-abu-ghazaleh/with-support-from-institutions-like-the-united-nations-as-well-as-the/)

[Talal Abu-Ghazaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-abu-ghazaleh/)

> [There was one field in which man was unsurpassed; he showed unlimited ingenuity in devising bigger and more efficient ways to kill off, enslave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/there-was-one-field-in-which-man-was-unsurpassed-he-showed-unlimited/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [To those who study her, Nature reveals herself as extraordinarily fertile and ingenious in devising means, but she has no ends which the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/to-those-who-study-her-nature-reveals-herself-as-extraordinarily/)

[Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/)

> [If the desire to get somewhere is strong enough in a person, his whole being, conscious and unconscious, is always at work, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-philip-grove/if-the-desire-to-get-somewhere-is-strong-enough-in-a-person-his-whole/)

Frederick Philip Grove

> [Black and Third World people are expected to educate white people as to our humanity. Women are expected to educate men. Lesbians and gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/black-and-third-world-people-are-expected-to-educate-white-people-as/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [The scientific method ... is nothing but the exclusion of subjective opinions as far as possible, by the devising of experiments where observation can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-beer/the-scientific-method-is-nothing-but-the-exclusion-of-subjective/)

Gavin de Beer

> [It is however pretty evident, on general principles, that in devising for mathematical truths a new form in which to record and throw themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-lovelace/it-is-however-pretty-evident-on-general-principles-that-in-devising/)

[Ada Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-lovelace/)

> [Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood, and strives in every way to contradict every truth; devising various calumnies against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/christ-taught-us-truth-the-devil-teaches-us-falsehood-and-strives-in/)

[John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/)

> [Adults devise a plan and follow it, children do what feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/adults-devise-a-plan-and-follow-it-children-do-what-feels-good/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

Browse all 49 Devising quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfactory remedy for it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Madison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-so-deeply-felt-and-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Devising"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-so-deeply-felt-and-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/james-madison-373_devising_the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-s_662330.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could…” — James Madison",
                "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": "James Madison",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The magnitude of this evil among...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-so-deeply-felt-and-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-magnitude-of-this-evil-among-us-is-so-deeply-felt-and-so/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```