--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There always have been and there always…" description: "\"“There always have been and there always will be people who have been corrupted into enjoying any excuse for cruelty.”\" — Madeleine L'Engle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png" --- # There always have been and there always will be people who… ![“There always have been and there always will be people who have been corrupted into enjoying any excuse for cruelty.” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png) > ““There always have been and there always will be people who have been corrupted into enjoying any excuse for cruelty.”” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that some people become corrupted, finding pleasure in cruelty, suggesting a moral decay. **In simple terms:** Some find joy in hurting others. Key Takeaway Guard against moral corruption. Themes morality corruption cruelty Mood somber critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - media consumption - personal relationships - social media Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to enjoy cruelty? - How can society discourage such behavior? A Different Perspective Not all who enjoy cruelty are fully corrupted; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corrupted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted/) [Corrupted Enjoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted-enjoying-2151130/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Excuse Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse-cruelty-2151129/) [People Corrupted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-corrupted-790743/) ## Related quotes > [“Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/our-will-is-always-for-our-own-good-but-we-do-not-always-see-what-2/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-people-is-never-corrupted-but-it-is-often-deceived/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [ \[L\]iberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted . . . ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-sidney/l-iberty-cannot-be-preserved-if-the-manners-of-the-people-are/) [Algernon Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-sidney/) > [If you are not the victim, don't examine it entirely from your point of view because when YOU'RE not the victim, it becomes pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-yourofsky/if-you-are-not-the-victim-don-t-examine-it-entirely-from-your-point/) [Gary Yourofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-yourofsky/) > [Misfortune is no excuse for cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/misfortune-is-no-excuse-for-cruelty/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [Liberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-sidney/liberty-cannot-be-preserved-if-the-manners-of-the-people-are-corrupted/) [Algernon Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-sidney/) > [Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/our-will-is-always-for-our-own-good-but-we-do-not-always-see-what/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [I'm actually a humanist, believe it or not, and I believe even when people are corrupted, even when they've gone to the dark side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-m-actually-a-humanist-believe-it-or-not-and-i-believe-even-when/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [“You see, we often get noncreative leaders, people most interested in preserving their own positions. They flock around centers of power. Such centers attract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/you-see-we-often-get-noncreative-leaders-people-most-interested-in/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Whenever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-the-speech-is-corrupted-so-is-the-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When mystical elements are introduced into morality, the whole system ends up being corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-mystical-elements-are-introduced-into-morality-the-whole-system/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [My mind corrupted but my heart is still pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-fly/my-mind-corrupted-but-my-heart-is-still-pure/) [CJ Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-fly/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The government is corrupted. It's corrupted. It is not about regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schmidt/the-government-is-corrupted-it-s-corrupted-it-is-not-about-regular/) [Steve Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schmidt/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Corrupted quotes > [The government is corrupted. It's corrupted. It is not about regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schmidt/the-government-is-corrupted-it-s-corrupted-it-is-not-about-regular/) [Steve Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schmidt/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Whenever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-the-speech-is-corrupted-so-is-the-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mind corrupted but my heart is still pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-fly/my-mind-corrupted-but-my-heart-is-still-pure/) [CJ Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-fly/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“When mystical elements are introduced into morality, the whole system ends up being corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-mystical-elements-are-introduced-into-morality-the-whole-system/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [“The U.S. financial markets had always been either corrupt or about to be corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-u-s-financial-markets-had-always-been-either-corrupt-or-about-to/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Even cohabitation has been corrupted - by marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/even-cohabitation-has-been-corrupted-by-marriage/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Have you ever found in history, one single example of a nation, thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without virtue there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/have-you-ever-found-in-history-one-single-example-of-a-nation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I am corrupted to the bone with the beauty of this forsaken world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/i-am-corrupted-to-the-bone-with-the-beauty-of-this-forsaken-world/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [Hey you.Fix your corrupted mind before you trying to fix me! You sucks. Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farishta/hey-you-fix-your-corrupted-mind-before-you-trying-to-fix-me-you-sucks/) [Farishta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farishta/) > [Oh how unhappy is the prince served by such men who are so easily corrupted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/oh-how-unhappy-is-the-prince-served-by-such-men-who-are-so-easily/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [“I could no longer be equated with the Virgin Mary. I had been corrupted. I was like everyone else. My stone-casting credibility had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-could-no-longer-be-equated-with-the-virgin-mary-i-had-been/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [My wide eyes make me look much younger without make-up, and although it's fun to have a line in innocence corrupted, I doubt I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talulah-riley/my-wide-eyes-make-me-look-much-younger-without-make-up-and-although/) [Talulah Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talulah-riley/) > [I love Winston Churchill. I love the wisdom he had, the sagacity. I like people who are independent-minded. People who aren't part of clans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lapo-elkann/i-love-winston-churchill-i-love-the-wisdom-he-had-the-sagacity-i-like/) [Lapo Elkann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lapo-elkann/) [Browse all 98 Corrupted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There always have been and there always will be people who have been corrupted into enjoying any excuse for cruelty.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madeleine L'Engle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/there-always-have-been-and-there-always-will-be-people-who-have-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corrupted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/there-always-have-been-and-there-always-will-be-people-who-have-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/madeleine-l-engle-345_corrupted_there-always-have-been-and-there-always_1815694.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There always have been and there always will be people who have been corrupted into enjoying any excuse for…” — Madeleine L'Engle", "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": "Madeleine L'Engle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There always have been and there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/there-always-have-been-and-there-always-will-be-people-who-have-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/there-always-have-been-and-there-always-will-be-people-who-have-been/#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 } } ] } ```