--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People do terrible things, sometimes, for…" description: "\"“People do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons. “What’s”\" — Lauren Oliver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/lauren-oliver-109_reasons_people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for_207967.png" --- # People do terrible things, sometimes, for the best… ![“People do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons. “What’s” quote by Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/lauren-oliver-109_reasons_people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for_207967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/lauren-oliver-109_reasons_people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for_207967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/lauren-oliver-109_reasons_people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for_207967.png) > ““People do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons. “What’s”” [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People sometimes commit harmful acts, believing they serve a greater good, highlighting moral ambiguity. **In simple terms:** People do bad things for good reasons. Key Takeaway Question the morality of actions, even if intentions seem noble. Themes ethics intention consequence Mood critical thoughtful conflicted Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - political decisions - personal dilemmas - social activism Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you justified a harmful act for a good cause? - Can ends justify means? A Different Perspective Good intentions can justify harmful outcomes, leading to rationalization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) ## Related quotes > [people do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for-the-best-reasons/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Hope can make people do terrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/hope-can-make-people-do-terrible-things/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“People do terrible things to each other, but it's worse in the places where everybody is kept in the dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/people-do-terrible-things-to-each-other-but-it-s-worse-in-the-places/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“People do terrible things. You should never blame ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/people-do-terrible-things-you-should-never-blame-ideas/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [People who do not see the terrible things therefore do not see the beautiful things, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/people-who-do-not-see-the-terrible-things-therefore-do-not-see-the/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [People are terrible. 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You get screwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/this-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-help-people-you-get-screwed/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“At least when I'm sleeping I can dream myself back to Alex, can dream myself into a different world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-least-when-i-m-sleeping-i-can-dream-myself-back-to-alex-can-dream/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [People are like ants: Just a few of them give all the orders. 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