Evil Quote by Mary Wollstonecraft
“No man chooses evil because it's evil. He only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792
People pursue what they think is happiness, mistaking evil for good because they misunderstand true virtue.
In simple terms: Mistake evil for happiness due to misunderstanding.
Key Takeaway
Seek true virtue, not false happiness.
Themes
ethics
human nature
misunderstanding
happiness
morality
Mood
thought‑provoking
philosophical
Type
treatise
quote
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- political policy
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
moral education
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines genuine happiness?
- How can we recognize true virtue?
A Different Perspective
True happiness may be hard to define.
![“If children are to be educated to understand the true principle of patriotism, their mother must be a patriot [...]” quote by Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f78/mary-wollstonecraft-1568_children_if-children-are-to-be-educated-to-unders_78752.jpg)
![“I wish to show that elegance is inferior to virtue, that the first object of laudable ambition is to obtain a character as a human being, regardless of the distinction of sex [...]” quote by Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/445/mary-wollstonecraft-1568_ambition_i-wish-to-show-that-elegance-is-inferior_130145.jpg)
![“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)
