--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For indeed, what is more dire than the…" description: "\"“For indeed, what is more dire than the evils which today afflict the world? What is more terrible for the discerning than the unfolding events? What i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/maximus-the-confessor-7435_quote_for-indeed-what-is-more-dire-than-the-ev_848207.jpg" --- # For indeed, what is more dire than the evils which today… ![“For indeed, what is more dire than the evils which today afflict the world? What is more terrible for the discerning than the unfolding events? What is more pitiable and frightening for those who endure them? To see a barbarous people of the desert overrunning another's lands as though they were…” quote by Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/maximus-the-confessor-7435_quote_for-indeed-what-is-more-dire-than-the-ev_848207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/maximus-the-confessor-7435_quote_for-indeed-what-is-more-dire-than-the-ev_848207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/maximus-the-confessor-7435_quote_for-indeed-what-is-more-dire-than-the-ev_848207.jpg) > ““For indeed, what is more dire than the evils which today afflict the world? What is more terrible for the discerning than the unfolding events? What is more pitiable and frightening for those who endure them? To see a barbarous people of the desert overrunning another's lands as though they were their own; to see civilization itself being ravaged by wild and untamed beasts whose form alone is human.”” [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that human cruelty and barbarism are more frightening than natural evils, as people destroy each other’s societies. **In simple terms:** Human cruelty is scarier than natural disasters. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist barbaric impulses. Themes civilization barbarism human nature conflict Mood somber urgent Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political upheaval - war - colonialism - social unrest Key Concepts ethical decay power dynamics identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - How do we prevent societies from becoming barbaric? - What responsibilities do individuals have to protect civilization? A Different Perspective It may overlook the role of systemic structures that enable cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Trump is literally the epitome of evil, all the evils of this country - be it racism, capitalism, sexism, homophobia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/trump-is-literally-the-epitome-of-evil-all-the-evils-of-this-country/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [They who talk much of destiny, their birth-star, etc., are in a lower dangerous plane, and invite the evils they fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/they-who-talk-much-of-destiny-their-birth-star-etc-are-in-a-lower/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The wicked know that if the ill they do be of sufficient horror that men will not speak against it. That men have just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-wicked-know-that-if-the-ill-they-do-be-of-sufficient-horror-that/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [To repay evils with kindness is the religion I was taught to practise, and this will forever be my rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/to-repay-evils-with-kindness-is-the-religion-i-was-taught-to-practise/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [The only important property of evils of the past is that they not be repeated in the future, in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-only-important-property-of-evils-of-the-past-is-that-they-not-be/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [“Hope is the worst of evils because it protracts torment.” “Your”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/hope-is-the-worst-of-evils-because-it-protracts-torment-your/) [Irvin D. 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However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/there-are-lots-of-those-who-speak-but-few-who-do-however-no-one/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-you-make-provision-for-the-desires-of-the-flesh-and-bear-a-grudge/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The Logos came down out of love for us. 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The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whoever-sees-in-himself-the-traces-of-hatred-toward-any-man-on/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/as-we-have-borne-the-image-of-the-earthy-let-us-also-bear-the-image/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > ['The long-suffering man abounds in understanding' (Prov. 14:29), because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that end, patiently bears his distress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-long-suffering-man-abounds-in-understanding-prov-14-29-because-he/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If everything that exists was made by God and for God, and God is superior to the things made by Him, he who abandons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-everything-that-exists-was-made-by-god-and-for-god-and-god-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The person who truly wishes to be healed is he who does not refuse treatment. 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Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Hope is the worst of evils because it protracts torment.” “Your”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/hope-is-the-worst-of-evils-because-it-protracts-torment-your/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [The only important property of evils of the past is that they not be repeated in the future, in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-only-important-property-of-evils-of-the-past-is-that-they-not-be/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [To repay evils with kindness is the religion I was taught to practise, and this will forever be my rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/to-repay-evils-with-kindness-is-the-religion-i-was-taught-to-practise/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [“The wicked know that if the ill they do be of sufficient horror that men will not speak against it. 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