--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of evils one should choose the least…" description: "\"Of evils one should choose the least. [Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.]\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg" --- # Of evils one should choose the least. \[Lat., Ex malis… ![“Of evils one should choose the least. [Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg) > “Of evils one should choose the least. \[Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.\]” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choose the lesser evil when faced with multiple wrongs, minimizing harm. **In simple terms:** Pick the smaller wrong. Key Takeaway Aim for the least harmful option. Themes ethics decisionmaking morality Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political negotiations - legal judgments - personal dilemmas Key Concepts utilitarianism moral compromise Questions to Reflect On - Is any evil acceptable if it’s the smallest? - How do you assess which evil is lesser? A Different Perspective Choosing the lesser evil may still perpetuate harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Exes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exes/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to fall from the window than the roof; that is, of two evils, choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-fall-from-the-window-than-the-roof-that-is-of-two/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/between-two-evils-choose-neither-between-two-goods-choose-both/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [“Between two evils, I choose the one I’ve never tried before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinlein-robert-a/between-two-evils-i-choose-the-one-i-ve-never-tried-before/) Heinlein Robert A > [Of two evils, choose the more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/of-two-evils-choose-the-more-interesting/) [Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/) > [Of two evils choose the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/of-two-evils-choose-the-least/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Of two evils, choose neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/of-two-evils-choose-neither/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Of two evils, I always choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/of-two-evils-i-always-choose-the-lesser/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [Of two evils choose the prettier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/of-two-evils-choose-the-prettier/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [Of two evils we must always choose the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-least/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-nature-and-when-a-man-is/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [ He takes the greatest ornament from friendship, who takes modesty from it. \[Lat., Maximum ornamentum amicitiae tollit, qui ex ea tollit verecudiam.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/he-takes-the-greatest-ornament-from-friendship-who-takes-modesty-from/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I depart from life as from an inn, and not as from my home. \[Lat., Ex vita discedo, tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/i-depart-from-life-as-from-an-inn-and-not-as-from-my-home-lat-ex-vita/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Choose quotes > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) RoderickTheFirst > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of evils one should choose the least. [Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.]", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_evil_of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat_895472.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Of evils one should choose the least. [Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.]” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Of evils one should choose the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/#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 } } ] } ```