--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no such thing as evil. Only…" description: "\"There is no such thing as evil. Only relative degrees of good.\" — Meher Baba" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/meher-baba-2986_degrees_there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-only-rela_3126245.png" --- # There is no such thing as evil. Only relative degrees of… ![“There is no such thing as evil. Only relative degrees of good.” quote by Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/meher-baba-2986_degrees_there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-only-rela_3126245.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/meher-baba-2986_degrees_there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-only-rela_3126245.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/meher-baba-2986_degrees_there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-only-rela_3126245.png) > “There is no such thing as evil. Only relative degrees of good.” [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## 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 argues that evil does not exist independently; actions are merely varying degrees of good. **In simple terms:** Evil is just lesser degrees of good. Key Takeaway Consider actions on a spectrum of goodness. Themes morality philosophy ethics relativism Mood thoughtful philosophical Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - ethical debates - personal decisions - conflict resolution - spiritual practice Key Concepts good vs evil moral gradations spiritual teaching Questions to Reflect On - How do we address truly harmful actions? - Can all actions be reduced to degrees of good? A Different Perspective The view may ignore genuine harm and suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Degrees Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees-good-690897/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-relative-2489682/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative/) [Relative Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative-degrees-5509545/) [Thing Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-evil-236129/) ## Related quotes > [I think evil is very relative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/i-think-evil-is-very-relative/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [Evil is relative…You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-cook/evil-is-relative-you-can-t-hang-a-sign-on-it-you-can-t-touch-it-or/) [Glen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-cook/) > [I've seen with my own students, community colleges offer an affordable route to four-year college degrees and good paying jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/i-ve-seen-with-my-own-students-community-colleges-offer-an-affordable/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [“evil' is after all a relative term: there being a minor and pragmatical sort, to be disposed of as one swats a fly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/evil-is-after-all-a-relative-term-there-being-a-minor-and-pragmatical/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“You’re not evil,” he had whispered, those bright, solemn blue eyes staring into me, peeling away every defense. “No one who fights so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/you-re-not-evil-he-had-whispered-those-bright-solemn-blue-eyes/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“There's no such thing as evil for its own sake . All evil is motivated - even mine {Lucifer}.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/there-s-no-such-thing-as-evil-for-its-own-sake-all-evil-is-motivated/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“What's the one thing Evil can never have... and the one thing Good can never do without?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soman-chainani/what-s-the-one-thing-evil-can-never-have-and-the-one-thing-good-can/) [Soman Chainani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soman-chainani/) > [“And this is the only really startling thing about the evil of the world: not that so much of it exists, but that nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/and-this-is-the-only-really-startling-thing-about-the-evil-of-the/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [The only thing evil can’t stand is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-only-thing-evil-can-t-stand-is-forgiveness/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“There is no such thing as evil in the world of science. There are only those who discover and are remembered, and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-barrus/there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-in-the-world-of-science-there-are-only/) [S.C. Barrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-barrus/) > [Evil is not only By hurting other's stendind and watching reail bad happning in fornt of us and not doning any thing is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-cruz/evil-is-not-only-by-hurting-other-s-stendind-and-watching-reail-bad/) [Kevin D'cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-cruz/) > [“That’s the thing about evil. You don’t need to be it to do it. It doesn’t have to consume all of you. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/that-s-the-thing-about-evil-you-don-t-need-to-be-it-to-do-it-it-doesn/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“It's said on my world that the only thing evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing." - Will Bradshaw”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-daigle/it-s-said-on-my-world-that-the-only-thing-evil-needs-to-succeed-is/) [Arthur Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-daigle/) > [I'd have to say, and I think that most Christians would hold the view, that there is such a thing as evil, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hollingworth/i-d-have-to-say-and-i-think-that-most-christians-would-hold-the-view/) [Peter Hollingworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hollingworth/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) ## More by Meher Baba > [The seeker asking, Where is God? Is really God saying, Where indeed is the seeker!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-seeker-asking-where-is-god-is-really-god-saying-where-indeed-is/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Seek a reality deeper than the changing forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/seek-a-reality-deeper-than-the-changing-forms/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Art, when inspired with love, leads to higher realms. Love art and that art will open for you the inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/art-when-inspired-with-love-leads-to-higher-realms-love-art-and-that/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best way to cleanse the heart and prepare for the stilling of the mind is to lead a normal, worldly life. Living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-way-to-cleanse-the-heart-and-prepare-for-the-stilling-of-the/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [As you all become more intimate with Me, with opportunities to come closer to Me, all that is good and bad within you comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/as-you-all-become-more-intimate-with-me-with-opportunities-to-come/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Let not the dirt of the sanskaras of your thoughts and deeds touch you, by surrendering every thought and act at the feet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/let-not-the-dirt-of-the-sanskaras-of-your-thoughts-and-deeds-touch/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who constantly want something will never feel happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-constantly-want-something-will-never-feel-happy/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Love and forgiveness is not for the faint-hearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/love-and-forgiveness-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best course for My lover is to remember Me wholeheartedly as much as one can…and leave the rest to Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-course-for-my-lover-is-to-remember-me-wholeheartedly-as-much/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The purpose of life is to realize God within ourselves. This can be done even whilst attending to our worldly duties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-realize-god-within-ourselves-this-can-be/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, nothing matters but love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-nothing-matters-but-love-for-god/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [There is no higher or lower goal. There is only one goal, Self-Realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/there-is-no-higher-or-lower-goal-there-is-only-one-goal-self/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Sometimes our weakness is considered strength, and we take delight in borrowed greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/sometimes-our-weakness-is-considered-strength-and-we-take-delight-in/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, and all else is illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-and-all-else-is-illusion/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who speculate from the shore about the ocean shall know only its surface, but those who would know the depths of the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-speculate-from-the-shore-about-the-ocean-shall-know-only/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) [Explore all 143 Meher Baba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## More Degrees quotes > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Life comes from death. To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I work with different actors with varied degrees of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-work-with-different-actors-with-varied-degrees-of-experience/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [We are only alive to the degree that we can let ourselves be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-are-only-alive-to-the-degree-that-we-can-let-ourselves-be-moved/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) [Browse all 3,453 Degrees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no such thing as evil. 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