--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to…" description: "\"Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.\" — Max Muller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg" --- # Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do… ![“Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.” quote by Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg) > “Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.” [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature tends toward self‑destructive or harmful actions because they are effortless, while virtuous behavior requires deliberate effort and self‑control. **In simple terms:** Good is hard, bad is easy. Key Takeaway Virtue demands effort. Themes human nature ethics self‑control effort moral difficulty Mood reflective serious thoughtful Type aphorism moral observation When to use this quote - making ethical decisions - overcoming personal vices - pursuing long‑term goals - resisting peer pressure Key Concepts psychology philosophy behavior morality Practical Applications - ethical training programs - self‑improvement coaching Questions to Reflect On - What habits make virtuous actions easier? - How can societies lower the effort barrier for good deeds? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-deeds-444831/) [Beneficial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficial/) [Beneficial Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficial-good-737628/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Deeds Hurtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds-hurtful-737625/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Good Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-difficult-737627/) [Hurtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurtful/) [Hurtful Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurtful-easy-737626/) ## Related quotes > [When we learn from our cause and effect we increase our positives, we chip away and hopefully eliminate our negatives, so we can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/when-we-learn-from-our-cause-and-effect-we-increase-our-positives-we/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. If makes it feel needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/jogging-is-very-beneficial-it-s-good-for-your-legs-and-your-feet-it-s/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [“It's easy to do what is not good And things that harm oneself. It's very difficult to do Things beneficial and good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-easy-to-do-what-is-not-good-and-things-that-harm-oneself-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Evil has always been here since the world began. Good is what is difficult. It is a work of every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/evil-has-always-been-here-since-the-world-began-good-is-what-is/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [If a song feels good to me, it's not very difficult to make it my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-reeves/if-a-song-feels-good-to-me-it-s-not-very-difficult-to-make-it-my-own/) [Dianne Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-reeves/) > [What is good is difficult, and what is difficult is rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/what-is-good-is-difficult-and-what-is-difficult-is-rare/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [When I have something to say that I think will be too difficult for adults, I write it in a book for children. Children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/when-i-have-something-to-say-that-i-think-will-be-too-difficult-for/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [The business of looking good is very difficult. This has often made me consider retirement from films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-maniratnam/the-business-of-looking-good-is-very-difficult-this-has-often-made-me/) [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-maniratnam/) > [It's good to be difficult to know. Too many people are too easy to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/it-s-good-to-be-difficult-to-know-too-many-people-are-too-easy-to-know/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [In the Premier League every team is very good. That's why it's very difficult to reach that level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/in-the-premier-league-every-team-is-very-good-that-s-why-it-s-very/) [Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/) > [Writing a song is actually quite easy. Writing a good one is very, very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-elliott/writing-a-song-is-actually-quite-easy-writing-a-good-one-is-very-very/) [Joe Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-elliott/) > [It is difficult in life to be good, and difficult in art to portray goodness. Perhaps we don't know much about goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/it-is-difficult-in-life-to-be-good-and-difficult-in-art-to-portray/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Be careful, if you do bad deeds, bad things are gonna come and bite you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica/be-careful-if-you-do-bad-deeds-bad-things-are-gonna-come-and-bite-you/) [Monica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica/) > [“It wasn't uncommon to hear rationalizations of this sort--the longing to transform bad deeds into good ones. No one ever wanted to hear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/it-wasn-t-uncommon-to-hear-rationalizations-of-this-sort-the-longing/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More by Max Muller > [In order to discover truth, we must be truthful ourselves, and must welcome those who point out our errors as heartily as those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/in-order-to-discover-truth-we-must-be-truthful-ourselves-and-must/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [To me this technical acceptation seems not applicable here, where we have to deal with the simplest moral precepts, and not with psychological niceties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/to-me-this-technical-acceptation-seems-not-applicable-here-where-we/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [The translation of the Veda will hereafter tell to a great extent on the fate of India and on the growth of millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/the-translation-of-the-veda-will-hereafter-tell-to-a-great-extent-on/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [The evil-doer mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/the-evil-doer-mourns-in-the-next-he-mourns-in-both-he-mourns-and/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [I was so astonished that another had penetrated so deeply into the secrets of my soul, and that he knew what I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/i-was-so-astonished-that-another-had-penetrated-so-deeply-into-the/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [Even in heavenly pleasures he finds no satisfaction, the disciple who is fully awakened delights only in the destruction of all desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/even-in-heavenly-pleasures-he-finds-no-satisfaction-the-disciple-who/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind; but the odor of good people travels; even against the wind: a good man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/the-scent-of-flowers-does-not-travel-against-the-wind-but-the-odor-of/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [What ought to be done is neglected, what ought not to be done is done; the desires of unruly, thoughtless people are always increasing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/what-ought-to-be-done-is-neglected-what-ought-not-to-be-done-is-done/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/he-who-wishes-to-put-on-the-yellow-dress-without-having-cleansed/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [I spend my happiest hours in reading Vedantic books. They are to me like the light of the morning, like the pure air of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/i-spend-my-happiest-hours-in-reading-vedantic-books-they-are-to-me/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [It smote me to the heart that I had found no one in all the world who loved me more than all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/it-smote-me-to-the-heart-that-i-had-found-no-one-in-all-the-world-who/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [Whoever knows it also knows that in love there is no More and no Less; but that he who loves can only love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/whoever-knows-it-also-knows-that-in-love-there-is-no-more-and-no-less/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [There is no book in the world that is so thrilling, stirring and inspiring as the Upanishads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/there-is-no-book-in-the-world-that-is-so-thrilling-stirring-and/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [When the evil deed, after it has become known, brings sorrow to the fool, then it destroys his bright lot, nay, it cleaves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/when-the-evil-deed-after-it-has-become-known-brings-sorrow-to-the/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [The first pages of memory are like the old family Bible. The first leaves are wholly faded and somewhat soiled with handling. But, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/the-first-pages-of-memory-are-like-the-old-family-bible-the-first/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) [Explore all 66 Max Muller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) ## More Beneficial quotes > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [It's bad form to mention money-laundering. Instead, you talk about asset-management structures and tax beneficial schemes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/it-s-bad-form-to-mention-money-laundering-instead-you-talk-about/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [There's a lot of evidence that fruits and vegetables are beneficial for reducing the risk of stroke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-willett/there-s-a-lot-of-evidence-that-fruits-and-vegetables-are-beneficial/) [Walter Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-willett/) > [There are forces in life working for you and against you. One must distinguish the beneficial forces from the malevolent ones and choose correctly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/there-are-forces-in-life-working-for-you-and-against-you-one-must/) [Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/) > [We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-may-conclude-therefore-that-in-order-to-establish-laws-for-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The addition of nuts in salad... I always find to be beneficial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/the-addition-of-nuts-in-salad-i-always-find-to-be-beneficial/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) > [Eventually it became clear that our emotions, attitudes, and thoughts profoundly affect our bodies, sometimes to the degree of life or death. Soon mind-body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-dossey/eventually-it-became-clear-that-our-emotions-attitudes-and-thoughts/) [Larry Dossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dossey/) > [Physical beings want things to be the same. They want people to think the same. You work rather hard at sameness, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/physical-beings-want-things-to-be-the-same-they-want-people-to-think/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [In many instances, LSD actually produced terrifying and deleterious effects instead of beneficial effects, because of misuse, because it was a profanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/in-many-instances-lsd-actually-produced-terrifying-and-deleterious/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [Nothing will ever please me, no matter how excellent or beneficial, if I must retain the knowledge of it to myself. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-will-ever-please-me-no-matter-how-excellent-or-beneficial-if/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Sitting too long in front of a screen proves both physically and psychologically debilitating, no matter how innocuous or even beneficial the programs may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissela-bok/sitting-too-long-in-front-of-a-screen-proves-both-physically-and/) [Sissela Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissela-bok/) > [Never discount a country by their size or resources. What may not be useful to yours, could be greatly beneficial to other lands in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/never-discount-a-country-by-their-size-or-resources-what-may-not-be/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The event of the landing of these brethren upon our shores is to be, not without its beneficial effect, as well to the colored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-tappan/the-event-of-the-landing-of-these-brethren-upon-our-shores-is-to-be/) [Lewis Tappan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-tappan/) > [Genetic engineering is a result of science advancement, so I don't think that in itself is bad. If used wisely, genetics can be beneficial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/genetic-engineering-is-a-result-of-science-advancement-so-i-don-t/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [However great an evil immorality may be, we must not forget that it is not without its beneficial consequences. It is only through extremes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/however-great-an-evil-immorality-may-be-we-must-not-forget-that-it-is/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) [Browse all 510 Beneficial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Muller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves-are-easy-to-do-what-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beneficial" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves-are-easy-to-do-what-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b2/max-muller-10402_beneficial_bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves_52183.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very…” — Max Muller", "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": "Max Muller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves-are-easy-to-do-what-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves-are-easy-to-do-what-is/#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 } } ] } ```