Evil Quote by John Milton
“Evil, be thou my good.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Paradise Lost (1667) Book I, line 114
The speaker paradoxically asks evil to become a force for good, reflecting inner conflict.
In simple terms: Evil is asked to act as good.
Key Takeaway
Consider moral complexity, not just black and white.
Themes
morality
duality
inner conflict
theology
paradox
Mood
thoughtful
conflicted
philosophical
Type
literary
theological
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal moral dilemmas
- theological debate
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
good vs evil
ethical ambiguity
spiritual struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- Can evil truly serve good?
- What does this reveal about human nature?
A Different Perspective
Moral inversion can be self‑deceptive.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
