---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The belief in a super natural sources of…"
description: "\"“The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not necessary. Men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.”\" — Joseph Conrad"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg"
---

#  The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not…

![“The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not necessary. Men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” quote by Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg)

> ““The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not necessary. Men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.””

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Evil stems from human nature, not supernatural forces.

**In simple terms:** Human cruelty is enough.

Key Takeaway

Recognize human capacity for wickedness.

Themes

human nature morality evil

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- politics
- personal relationships
- history
- law

Key Concepts

Philosophy psychology ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What human actions cause the most harm?
- How can societies curb inherent wickedness?

A Different Perspective

It may overlook systemic factors that enable evil.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Belief Super](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-super-4320766/) [Capable Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-wickedness-4320767/) [Evil Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-necessary-680336/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sources Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sources-evil-3277347/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/)

## Related quotes

> [If God wiped out all sources of evil in the world we would no longer be here, the evil is inside us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-god-wiped-out-all-sources-of-evil-in-the-world-we-would-no-longer/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [It is said that there are three sources of evil, "the world, the flesh, and the Devil"; but the world and the flesh would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/it-is-said-that-there-are-three-sources-of-evil-the-world-the-flesh/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary.à Men alone are quite capable of every wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-belief-in-a-supernatural-source-of-evil-is-not-necessary-men/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [Most "necessary evils" are far more evil than necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/most-necessary-evils-are-far-more-evil-than-necessary/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Evil was necessary because without it free will was impossible, and without free will there could be no growth -- no forward movement, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/evil-was-necessary-because-without-it-free-will-was-impossible-and-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Imagine that you're an intelligent extraterrestrial, concerned only with verifiable truths. You discover a species that has divided itself into thousands - no, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/imagine-that-you-re-an-intelligent-extraterrestrial-concerned-only/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [...we should never judge anyone; a 'wicked' action which we may see as 'evil', may be necessary for the greater good. Where would the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-jepson-jr/we-should-never-judge-anyone-a-wicked-action-which-we-may-see-as-evil/)

[Robert S. Jepson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-jepson-jr/)

> [Separation from evil is the necessary first principle of communion with Him ... Separation from evil is His principle of unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nelson-darby/separation-from-evil-is-the-necessary-first-principle-of-communion/)

[John Nelson Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nelson-darby/)

> [Evil was necessary because without it free will was impossible, and without free will there could be no growth—no forward movement, no chance for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/evil-was-necessary-because-without-it-free-will-was-impossible-and/)

[Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/)

> [It is said that government is a necessary evil, but it is far more evil than it is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/it-is-said-that-government-is-a-necessary-evil-but-it-is-far-more/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [“no misery to be saved from . . . So evil is necessary, in order to the highest happiness of the creature, and the completeness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/no-misery-to-be-saved-from-so-evil-is-necessary-in-order-to-the/)

[Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/)

> [My brother, are war and battle evil? Necessary, however, is the evil; necessary are the envy and the distrust and the back-biting among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/my-brother-are-war-and-battle-evil-necessary-however-is-the-evil/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/religion-is-a-byproduct-of-fear-for-much-of-human-history-it-may-have/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [A little evil is often necessary for obtaining a great good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-little-evil-is-often-necessary-for-obtaining-a-great-good/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [When a person, group, or a government is speaking of necessary evils they must first realize that no evil is truly necessary. It may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lee/when-a-person-group-or-a-government-is-speaking-of-necessary-evils/)

[Aaron Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lee/)

## More by Joseph Conrad

> [“Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/hunters-for-gold-or-pursuers-of-fame-they-all-had-gone-out-on-that/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“Let the earth and the sea each have its own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/let-the-earth-and-the-sea-each-have-its-own/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [He hated all this, and somehow he couldn't get away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/he-hated-all-this-and-somehow-he-couldn-t-get-away/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“A fool, what with sheer fright and fine sentiments, is always safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/a-fool-what-with-sheer-fright-and-fine-sentiments-is-always-safe/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“The mind of man is capable of anything-because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future. What was there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-mind-of-man-is-capable-of-anything-because-everything-is-in-it/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/few-men-realize-that-their-life-the-very-essence-of-their-character/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“Perhaps on some quiet night the tremor of far-off drums, sinking, swelling, a tremor vast, faint; a sound weird, appealing, suggestive and wild -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/perhaps-on-some-quiet-night-the-tremor-of-far-off-drums-sinking/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“All that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/all-that-mysterious-life-of-the-wilderness-that-stirs-in-the-forest/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“The fascination of the abomination—you know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-fascination-of-the-abomination-you-know/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [It's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/it-s-only-those-who-do-nothing-that-make-no-mistakes-i-suppose/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [“Thieving was not a sheer absurdity. It was a form of human industry, perverse indeed, but still an industry exercised in an industrious world;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/thieving-was-not-a-sheer-absurdity-it-was-a-form-of-human-industry/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [I found myself back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-found-myself-back-in-the-sepulchral-city-resenting-the-sight-of/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [Society was calling to its accomplished child to come, to be taken care of, to be instructed, to be judged, to be condemned; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/society-was-calling-to-its-accomplished-child-to-come-to-be-taken/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

> [I was constantly watching myself, my secret self, as dependent on my actions as my own personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-was-constantly-watching-myself-my-secret-self-as-dependent-on-my/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

[Explore all 645 Joseph Conrad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

## More Faith quotes

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/)

[Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/)

[Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/)

> [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. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

> [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/)

[Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/)

> [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/)

[Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/)

[Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not necessary. Men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joseph Conrad"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of-evil-is-not-necessary-men/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Faith"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of-evil-is-not-necessary-men/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joseph-conrad-336_faith_the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of_1308307.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The belief in a super natural sources of evil is not necessary. Men alone are quite capable of every…” — Joseph Conrad",
                "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": "Joseph Conrad",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The belief in a super natural...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of-evil-is-not-necessary-men/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-belief-in-a-super-natural-sources-of-evil-is-not-necessary-men/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
