--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: California is choosing between the lesser…" description: "\"California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils.\" — Jon Stewart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg" --- # California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils. ![“California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils.” quote by Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg) > “California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils.” [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing between two undesirable options is still a choice; sometimes the lesser evil is still problematic. **In simple terms:** Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil. Key Takeaway Evaluate options critically, even when all seem bad. Themes politics ethics decision making Mood skeptical thoughtful Type analytical political When to use this quote - election - legislation - environmental policy - budgeting Key Concepts dilemma trade‑off policy public opinion Questions to Reflect On - What criteria help you identify the lesser evil? - Can you find a third path? A Different Perspective May ignore potential for better alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [300 Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/300-evils-990191/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [California Choosing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california-choosing-990190/) [Choosing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing/) [Choosing Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing-lesser-990192/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils/) ## Related quotes > [“If it feels like you're choosing between the lesser of two evils, don't. There is always a higher choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-neill/if-it-feels-like-you-re-choosing-between-the-lesser-of-two-evils-don/) [Michael Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-neill/) > [Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/constantly-choosing-the-lesser-of-two-evils-is-still-choosing-evil/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [“When choosing the lesser of two evils, always remember, it is still an evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/when-choosing-the-lesser-of-two-evils-always-remember-it-is-still-an/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/wisdom-consists-of-knowing-how-to-distinguish-the-nature-of-trouble/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-choosing-between-two-evils-i-always-like-to-try-the-one-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [If you choose the lesser of two evils, you are still choosing evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/if-you-choose-the-lesser-of-two-evils-you-are-still-choosing-evil/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [The lives of the best of us are spent in choosing between evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius/the-lives-of-the-best-of-us-are-spent-in-choosing-between-evils/) [Junius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius/) > [When choosing between two evils, I always like to take the one I've never tried before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-choosing-between-two-evils-i-always-like-to-take-the-one-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Imaginary evils are incurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/imaginary-evils-are-incurable/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Of your philosophy you makeno use If you give place to accidental evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-your-philosophy-you-makeno-use-if-you-give-place-to-accidental/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More by Jon Stewart > [Clearly, I'm way older than everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/clearly-i-m-way-older-than-everyone/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't think marijuana should be illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-think-marijuana-should-be-illegal/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Megachurches. I can't be the only one frightened when our houses of worship sound like they could take on Godzilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/megachurches-i-can-t-be-the-only-one-frightened-when-our-houses-of/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You know, in Saudi Arabia, you're innocent until proven Jewish. Female. Guilty! They're guilty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-know-in-saudi-arabia-you-re-innocent-until-proven-jewish-female/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-unfortunate-yet-truly-exciting-thing-about-your-life-is-that/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [A guy who says what people who aren't thinking are thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/a-guy-who-says-what-people-who-aren-t-thinking-are-thinking/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Do you guys have to sell everything? I'd like to buy the Earth's core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/do-you-guys-have-to-sell-everything-i-d-like-to-buy-the-earth-s-core/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Christmas and the New Year are actually two holidays. So there is a plural, which in the English language, necessitates the use of 's.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/christmas-and-the-new-year-are-actually-two-holidays-so-there-is-a/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [We're going to do a challenge. I'm going to try and download every movie ever made and you are going to try to sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/we-re-going-to-do-a-challenge-i-m-going-to-try-and-download-every/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Our culture is just a series of checks and balances. The whole idea that we're in a battle between tyranny and freedom - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/our-culture-is-just-a-series-of-checks-and-balances-the-whole-idea/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [For me it was just exciting to see fake news catching on like that. We don't you know, it's interesting. I think we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/for-me-it-was-just-exciting-to-see-fake-news-catching-on-like-that-we/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) [Explore all 545 Jon Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## More California quotes > [Everyone in California is from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/everyone-in-california-is-from-somewhere-else/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While there is an attempt by the Trump people to say that California isn't really America. California certainly seems like America to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/while-there-is-an-attempt-by-the-trump-people-to-say-that-california/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [I'm from California, but my father, who passed away when I was young, was from Newark. When I was kid, we would go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-m-from-california-but-my-father-who-passed-away-when-i-was-young/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [“God will break California from the surface of the continent like someone breaking off a piece of chocolate. It will become its own floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ruby/god-will-break-california-from-the-surface-of-the-continent-like/) [Laura Ruby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ruby/) > [You could have a hit in California that no one had heard of in Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-jackson/you-could-have-a-hit-in-california-that-no-one-had-heard-of-in/) [Wanda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-jackson/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. 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Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) [Browse all 2,036 California quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jon Stewart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/california-is-choosing-between-the-lesser-of-uh-300-evils/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "California" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/california-is-choosing-between-the-lesser-of-uh-300-evils/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/jon-stewart-455_california_california-is-choosing-between-the-lesse_2493568.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“California is choosing between the lesser of, uh, 300 evils.” — Jon Stewart", "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": "Jon Stewart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "California is choosing between the lesser...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/california-is-choosing-between-the-lesser-of-uh-300-evils/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/california-is-choosing-between-the-lesser-of-uh-300-evils/#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 } } ] } ```