--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tend to think that good and evil exist…" description: "\"I tend to think that good and evil exist and that the quantity in each of us is unchangeable. The moral character of people is set, fixed until death.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michel-houellebecq-1497_character_i-tend-to-think-that-good-and-evil-exist_1676307.png" --- # I tend to think that good and evil exist and that the… ![“I tend to think that good and evil exist and that the quantity in each of us is unchangeable. The moral character of people is set, fixed until death.” quote by Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michel-houellebecq-1497_character_i-tend-to-think-that-good-and-evil-exist_1676307.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michel-houellebecq-1497_character_i-tend-to-think-that-good-and-evil-exist_1676307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michel-houellebecq-1497_character_i-tend-to-think-that-good-and-evil-exist_1676307.png) > “I tend to think that good and evil exist and that the quantity in each of us is unchangeable. The moral character of people is set, fixed until death.” [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People’s moral nature is viewed as a fixed balance of good and evil that cannot be altered over a lifetime. **In simple terms:** Moral character is seen as unchangeable. Key Takeaway Accept that character may be static; focus on actions. Themes morality determinism human nature Mood reflective serious Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal relationships - legal judgments - leadership decisions - parenting - self‑assessment Key Concepts ethical philosophy fixed traits Questions to Reflect On - Can we truly change our moral balance? - What evidence challenges fixed morality? A Different Perspective If character can change, this view limits personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Each](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-exist-485673/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Good evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-evil/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-character/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quantity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantity/) [Tend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tend/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unchangeable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchangeable/) [Unchangeable Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchangeable-moral-911985/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [“God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to permit no evil to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/god-judged-it-better-to-bring-good-out-of-evil-than-to-permit-no-evil/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [Good and evil exist only in terms of the happiness or suffering they create in ourselves and others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/good-and-evil-exist-only-in-terms-of-the-happiness-or-suffering-they/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“Without memories,there can be no good or evil. It will exist only indifference!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-memories-there-can-be-no-good-or-evil-it-will-exist-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good and evil do not exist for me any more. The fear of evil is merely a mass projection here and on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-bender/good-and-evil-do-not-exist-for-me-any-more-the-fear-of-evil-is-merely/) [Hans Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-bender/) > [“I know of no evil that ever existed, nor can imagine any evil to exist, worse than the tearing of seventy or eighty thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-the-younger/i-know-of-no-evil-that-ever-existed-nor-can-imagine-any-evil-to-exist/) [William Pitt the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-the-younger/) > [“There are two godheads: the world and my independent I. I am either happy or unhappy, that is all. It can be said: good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/there-are-two-godheads-the-world-and-my-independent-i-i-am-either/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [In reality, good and evil do not exist, because Divine Providence created nothing that is bad and disharmonious; this is only a human concept.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/in-reality-good-and-evil-do-not-exist-because-divine-providence/) [Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/) > [“Then maybe you can tell me something else. How is it that Elyon can allow evil to exist in the black forest? Why doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/then-maybe-you-can-tell-me-something-else-how-is-it-that-elyon-can/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [“nowhere in this universe does evil exist except in the mind of mankind. only man can take an idea or symbol which is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/nowhere-in-this-universe-does-evil-exist-except-in-the-mind-of/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Evil will always exist in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/evil-will-always-exist-in-this-world/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/good-can-exist-without-evil-whereas-evil-cannot-exist-without-good/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Only humans think death is evil. But it is nature. Evil exist's only in life. There is much good and evil alloted to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isobelle-carmody/only-humans-think-death-is-evil-but-it-is-nature-evil-exist-s-only-in/) [Isobelle Carmody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isobelle-carmody/) > [Evil is thus a kind of parasite on goodness. If there were no good by which to measure things, evil could not exist. Men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/evil-is-thus-a-kind-of-parasite-on-goodness-if-there-were-no-good-by/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“As a Freudian, I'm not supposed to use words like evil; my business is with instinct, memory, and desire. Nevertheless, I've been wondering, lately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-la-farge/as-a-freudian-i-m-not-supposed-to-use-words-like-evil-my-business-is/) [Paul La Farge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-la-farge/) > [The important thing is moral choice. Evil has to exist along with good, in order that moral choice may operate. Life is sustained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/the-important-thing-is-moral-choice-evil-has-to-exist-along-with-good/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) ## More by Michel Houellebecq > [I think it's more difficult to live without a religion, definitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-think-it-s-more-difficult-to-live-without-a-religion-definitely/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [I think that if writers don't speak about real life, it's because they don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-think-that-if-writers-don-t-speak-about-real-life-it-s-because-they/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“In my life, I had known suffering, oppression, anxiety; I had never known boredom. I could see no objection to the endless, imbecile repetition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/in-my-life-i-had-known-suffering-oppression-anxiety-i-had-never-known/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [I admit that invective is one of my pleasures. This only brings me problems in life, but that's it. I attack, I insult. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-admit-that-invective-is-one-of-my-pleasures-this-only-brings-me/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“... I spent whole afternoons at Bon Marché looking at pullovers, there was no sense in going on like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-spent-whole-afternoons-at-bon-march-looking-at-pullovers-there-was/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [I've lived so little that I tend to imagine I'm not going to die; it seems improbable that human existence can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-ve-lived-so-little-that-i-tend-to-imagine-i-m-not-going-to-die-it/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [Rumor had it that he was homosexual; in reality, in recent years, he was simply a garden-variety alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/rumor-had-it-that-he-was-homosexual-in-reality-in-recent-years-he-was/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“He doesn't know it yet, but the infinity of childhood is brief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/he-doesn-t-know-it-yet-but-the-infinity-of-childhood-is-brief/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“Olga was nice, Olga was nice and loving, Olga loved him, he repeated to himself with a growing sadness as he also realised that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/olga-was-nice-olga-was-nice-and-loving-olga-loved-him-he-repeated-to/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“Regarde, c’est la mort, mon amour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/regarde-c-est-la-mort-mon-amour/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“The problem is, it's just not enough to live according to the rules. Sure, you manage to live according to the rules. Sometimes it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/the-problem-is-it-s-just-not-enough-to-live-according-to-the-rules/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“Life sometimes offers you a chance, he thought, but when you are too cowardly or too indecisive to seize it life takes the cards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/life-sometimes-offers-you-a-chance-he-thought-but-when-you-are-too/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“An entire life spent reading would have fulfilled my every desire; I already knew that at the age of seven. The texture of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/an-entire-life-spent-reading-would-have-fulfilled-my-every-desire-i/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [Of course, we can distinguish between males and females; we can also, if we choose, distinguish between different age categories; but any more advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/of-course-we-can-distinguish-between-males-and-females-we-can-also-if/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [A source of permanent, accessible pleasure, our genitals exist. The god who created our misfortune, who made us short-lived, vain and cruel, has also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/a-source-of-permanent-accessible-pleasure-our-genitals-exist-the-god/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) [Explore all 144 Michel Houellebecq quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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