--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No government or social system is so evil…" description: "\"No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.\" — John F. Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/john-f-kennedy-246_character_no-government-or-social-system-is-so-evi_1691264.jpg" --- # No government or social system is so evil that its people… ![“No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/john-f-kennedy-246_character_no-government-or-social-system-is-so-evi_1691264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/john-f-kennedy-246_character_no-government-or-social-system-is-so-evi_1691264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/john-f-kennedy-246_character_no-government-or-social-system-is-so-evi_1691264.jpg) > “No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A society is not irredeemable because its institutions are flawed; the people can still possess moral worth. **In simple terms:** People can be virtuous despite bad systems. Key Takeaway Judge individuals, not just systems. Themes morality politics human nature Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical political When to use this quote - political reform - community building - education - activism Key Concepts virtue ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals nurture virtue within corrupt institutions? - What responsibilities do citizens have to improve their societies? A Different Perspective Systems can suppress virtue, making moral action harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-people/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-systems/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Our government and its social policies, its tax breaks, the way school days work, so much of the country we live in is built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/our-government-and-its-social-policies-its-tax-breaks-the-way-school/) [Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/) > [And were in the middle of a perfect storm. These days, government social services are being bad-mouthed and defunded. The non-profit world is looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/and-were-in-the-middle-of-a-perfect-storm-these-days-government/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [“The entry of government into social insurance and then into a broader range of social interventions has caused incalculable human suffering. It has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/the-entry-of-government-into-social-insurance-and-then-into-a-broader/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [Unchecked, government social programs are a security threat because they weaken the ultimate line of defense: the free-born citizen whose responsibilities are not subcontracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/unchecked-government-social-programs-are-a-security-threat-because/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [A leader has to know how the system functions - not just the system of government but the whole social and economic system, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/a-leader-has-to-know-how-the-system-functions-not-just-the-system-of/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [It is not business, it is not government - it is the social sector that may yet save the society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/it-is-not-business-it-is-not-government-it-is-the-social-sector-that/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [This attempt to ban smoking is an example of social engineering on a vast scale. Such massive intervention in the private lives and choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-orville-whitley/this-attempt-to-ban-smoking-is-an-example-of-social-engineering-on-a/) Charles Orville Whitley > [One social evil for which the New Testament is clearly in part responsible is anti-Semitism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/one-social-evil-for-which-the-new-testament-is-clearly-in-part/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Family . . . the home of all social evil, a charitable institution for comfortable women, an anchorage for house-fathers, and a hell for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/family-the-home-of-all-social-evil-a-charitable-institution-for/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [There is no social evil, no form of injustice whether of the feudal or the capitalist order which has not been sanctified in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-is-no-social-evil-no-form-of-injustice-whether-of-the-feudal-or/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [“I have long gone about with a conviction on my mind that I had a work to do—a Work, if you like, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-have-long-gone-about-with-a-conviction-on-my-mind-that-i-had-a-work/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/vivisection-is-a-social-evil-because-if-it-advances-human-knowledge/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“The sole social evil is darkness; humanity is identity, for all men are made of the same clay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-sole-social-evil-is-darkness-humanity-is-identity-for-all-men-are/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Inequality is the root of social evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/inequality-is-the-root-of-social-evil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I hold with Henry George, that at the back of every great social evil will be found a great political wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/i-hold-with-henry-george-that-at-the-back-of-every-great-social-evil/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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