--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Evil is a far more cunning and…" description: "\"Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is driven to seek countenance and sympathy.\" — Ja..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png" --- # Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist… ![“Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is driven to seek countenance and sympathy.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png) > “Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is driven to seek countenance and sympathy.” [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## 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 a clever, persistent propagandist lacking inner strength, seeking sympathy. **In simple terms:** Evil spreads propaganda without strength. Key Takeaway Guard against deceptive narratives. Themes evil propaganda psychology Mood cautionary philosophical Type ethical strategic When to use this quote - politics - media - religion - advertising Key Concepts manipulation morality social influence Questions to Reflect On - How does evil’s lack of strength affect its tactics? - What can strengthen good’s narrative? A Different Perspective Good can also use propaganda; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Countenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countenance/) [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Cunning Persevering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning-persevering-3606262/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-far-1047386/) [Far Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-cunning-3606263/) [Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward/) [Persevering Propagandist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persevering-propagandist-3606264/) [Propagandist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propagandist/) ## Related quotes > [Ignorance of impending evil is far better than a knowledge of its approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/ignorance-of-impending-evil-is-far-better-than-a-knowledge-of-its/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Denouncing evil is a far cry from doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gourevitch/denouncing-evil-is-a-far-cry-from-doing-good/) [Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gourevitch/) > [Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far-2/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The use of 'conspiracy theory' as a derogatory - as an epithet almost - is something the propagandists have perfected over the decades, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sanders/the-use-of-conspiracy-theory-as-a-derogatory-as-an-epithet-almost-is/) [Chris Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sanders/) > [But the most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/but-the-most-brilliant-propagandist-technique-will-yield-no-success/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [A principle familiar to propagandists is that the doctrine to be instilled in the target audience should not be articulated: that would only expose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-principle-familiar-to-propagandists-is-that-the-doctrine-to-be/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/this-propaganda-of-dis-associating-western-negroes-from-africa-is-not/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-real-persuaders-are-our-appetites-our-fears-and-above-all-our/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [As a teacher, as a propagandist, Mr. Shaw is no good at all, even in his own generation. But as a personality, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/as-a-teacher-as-a-propagandist-mr-shaw-is-no-good-at-all-even-in-his/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [ I listened to Hillary \[Clinton\], and I heard the double talk. She's so good at it, and I'm not making this up, that the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/i-listened-to-hillary-clinton-and-i-heard-the-double-talk-she-s-so/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [I don't want to be a propagandist, no matter how good the cause. I want to tell stories. It's just that the stories have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-propagandist-no-matter-how-good-the-cause-i-want/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I shall give a propagandist reason for starting the war, no matter whether it is plausible or not. The victor will not be asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-shall-give-a-propagandist-reason-for-starting-the-war-no-matter/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-propagandist-s-purpose-is-to-make-one-set-of-people-forget-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The people the Republicans should reach out to are the white votes, the white voters who didn't vote in the last election. The propagandists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/the-people-the-republicans-should-reach-out-to-are-the-white-votes/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by James Russell Lowell > [We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/we-kind-o-thought-christ-went-agin-war-an-pillage/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-life-runs-on-the-road-grows-strange-with-faces-new-and-near-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Where one person shapes their life by precept and example, there are a thousand who have shaped it by impulse and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/where-one-person-shapes-their-life-by-precept-and-example-there-are-a/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Granting our wish is one of Fate's saddest jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/granting-our-wish-is-one-of-fate-s-saddest-jokes/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The thing we long for, that we are For one transcendent moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-thing-we-long-for-that-we-are-for-one-transcendent-moment/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [O reputation! dearer far than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/o-reputation-dearer-far-than-life/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is beginning to be doubtful whether Parliament and Congress sit in Westminster and Washington, or in the editorial rooms of the leading journals,--so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-beginning-to-be-doubtful-whether-parliament-and-congress-sit-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [ \[B\]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/b-ut-in-literature-it-should-be-remembered-a-thing-always-becomes-his/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-may-be-glorious-to-write-thoughts-that-shall-glad-the-two-or-three/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is the vain endeavor to make ourselves what we are not that has strewn history with so many broken purposes and lives left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-the-vain-endeavor-to-make-ourselves-what-we-are-not-that-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Take winter as you find him, and he turns out to be a thoroughly honest fellow; with no nonsense in him, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/take-winter-as-you-find-him-and-he-turns-out-to-be-a-thoroughly/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-intellect-has-only-one-failing-which-to-be-sure-is-a-very/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Explore all 471 James Russell Lowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## More Countenance quotes > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [At this point in history when all things which concern man and the structure and elements of history itself are suddenly revealed to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-mannheim/at-this-point-in-history-when-all-things-which-concern-man-and-the/) [Karl Mannheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-mannheim/) > [Nothing to me is more distasteful than that entire complacency and satisfaction which beam in the countenances of a new married couple; in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/nothing-to-me-is-more-distasteful-than-that-entire-complacency-and/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [And these two elements are at odds with one another because Freud is utterly adversary to almost all the ways of structuring the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/and-these-two-elements-are-at-odds-with-one-another-because-freud-is/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [It is a hard matter for a man to lie all over, nature having provided king's evidence in almost every member. The hand will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/it-is-a-hard-matter-for-a-man-to-lie-all-over-nature-having-provided/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, and never to keep his word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-two-maxims-of-any-great-man-at-court-are-always-to-keep-his/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-countenance-is-the-portrait-of-the-soul-and-the-eyes-mark-its/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Not only do they offend thee, O Lady, who outrage thee, but thou art also offended by those who neglect to ask thy favors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonaventure/not-only-do-they-offend-thee-o-lady-who-outrage-thee-but-thou-art/) [Bonaventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonaventure/) > [Custom is a violent and treacherous school mistress. 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cicero/the-countenance-is-the-portrait-of-the-soul-and-the-eyes-mark-its-2/) [Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cicero/) > [“In the faces of humanity, the countenances that shine brightest are those whose minds are powered by wisdom's Divine supplier of enlightment...selah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/in-the-faces-of-humanity-the-countenances-that-shine-brightest-are/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) > [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) [Browse all 251 Countenance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countenance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is driven to seek countenance and sympathy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Russell Lowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-persevering-propagandist-than-good-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Countenance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-persevering-propagandist-than-good-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/james-russell-lowell-561_countenance_evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-perseveri_2013193.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is…” — James Russell Lowell", "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 Russell Lowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Evil is a far more cunning...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-persevering-propagandist-than-good-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-persevering-propagandist-than-good-for/#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 } } ] } ```