Evil Quote by Leigh Brackett
““There's never been an act done since the beginning, from a kid stealing candy to a dictator committing genocide, that the person doing it didn't think he was fully justified. That's a mental trick called rationalizing, and it's done the human race more harm than anything else you can name.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 1970s, unknown venue
People often convince themselves their actions are justified, even harmful ones, through rationalization.
In simple terms: We justify bad deeds to feel right.
Key Takeaway
Question your rationalizations.
Themes
psychology
ethics
self‑deception
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- political policies
- business practices
- interpersonal conflicts
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
moral disengagement
Questions to Reflect On
- What justification am I using?
- How does this belief affect others?
A Different Perspective
Rationalizing can blind us to real consequences.
![“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)
