--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You pronounced your words as if you don’t…" description: "\"You pronounced your words as if you don’t acknowledge the shadows, or the evil either. Would you be so kind as to give a little thought to the question..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_acknowledge_you-pronounced-your-words-as-if-you-don_985010.jpg" --- # You pronounced your words as if you don’t acknowledge the… ![“You pronounced your words as if you don’t acknowledge the shadows, or the evil either. Would you be so kind as to give a little thought to the question of what your good would be doing if evil did not exist, and how the earth would look if the shadows were to disappear from it?” quote by Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_acknowledge_you-pronounced-your-words-as-if-you-don_985010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_acknowledge_you-pronounced-your-words-as-if-you-don_985010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_acknowledge_you-pronounced-your-words-as-if-you-don_985010.jpg) > “You pronounced your words as if you don’t acknowledge the shadows, or the evil either. Would you be so kind as to give a little thought to the question of what your good would be doing if evil did not exist, and how the earth would look if the shadows were to disappear from it?” [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil defines good; without darkness, moral purpose loses meaning. **In simple terms:** Good needs evil to be understood. Key Takeaway Consider the role of adversity. Themes morality duality philosophy Mood thoughtful melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - psychology Key Concepts existentialism literature ethics Questions to Reflect On - What would morality look like without evil? - Can goodness exist independently? A Different Perspective Some view evil as unnecessary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) ## Related quotes > [Thought is not what inhabits a certain conduct and gives it its meaning; rather, it is what allows one to step back from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/thought-is-not-what-inhabits-a-certain-conduct-and-gives-it-its/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [“History had shown again and again that ignoring evil because it did not affect you was a short-sighted and often deadly mistake. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleron-kong-the-father-of-american-litrpg/history-had-shown-again-and-again-that-ignoring-evil-because-it-did/) Aleron Kong "The Father of American LitRPG > [Evil did not catch God by surprise. He had a rescue plan, and He's still in the process of working out His plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/evil-did-not-catch-god-by-surprise-he-had-a-rescue-plan-and-he-s/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [“You’re evil. Did you know that?” She just smiled. “Well I’ve got to say, you do look devilish in my shirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/you-re-evil-did-you-know-that-she-just-smiled-well-i-ve-got-to-say/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [“That was the only tragic thing about books: they changed people. All except the truly evil, who did not become better fathers, nicer husbands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/that-was-the-only-tragic-thing-about-books-they-changed-people-all/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [In the story of the Creation we read: ". . . And behold, it was very good." But, in the passage where Moses reproves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/in-the-story-of-the-creation-we-read-and-behold-it-was-very-good-but/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [Good' did not triumph. 'Evil' did not triumph. The two resolved, destroyed each other and created new 'evils', new 'goods' which slew each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ambler/good-did-not-triumph-evil-did-not-triumph-the-two-resolved-destroyed/) [Eric Ambler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ambler/) > [A lot of Christians look at Hollywood as the ultimate evil. But what it did for me is it sharpened my ability to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/a-lot-of-christians-look-at-hollywood-as-the-ultimate-evil-but-what/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [Christian society is like a bundle of sticks laid together, whereof one kindles another. Solitary men have fewest provocations to evil, but, again, fewest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/christian-society-is-like-a-bundle-of-sticks-laid-together-whereof/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [There is much said about the wickedness of doing evil that good may come. Alas! there is such a thing as doing good that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/there-is-much-said-about-the-wickedness-of-doing-evil-that-good-may/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [The doing evil to avoid an evil cannot be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-doing-evil-to-avoid-an-evil-cannot-be-good/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A man without a memory is only capable of doing evil, nothing else but evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/a-man-without-a-memory-is-only-capable-of-doing-evil-nothing-else-but/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [“The aim of the sinless One consists in acting without causing sorrow to others, although he could attain to great power by ignoring their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-aim-of-the-sinless-one-consists-in-acting-without-causing-sorrow/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/with-or-without-religion-you-would-have-good-people-doing-good-things/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) ## More by Mikhail Bulgakov > [“The Procurator did not squint because the sun dazzled him. No! For some reason, he did not want to see the group of condemned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-procurator-did-not-squint-because-the-sun-dazzled-him-no-for-some/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“…i głośno, radośnie oznajmił: - Utną panu głowę!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/i-g-o-no-rado-nie-oznajmi-utn-panu-g-ow/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [If it is true that cowardice is the most grave vice, then the dog, at least, is not guilty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-it-is-true-that-cowardice-is-the-most-grave-vice-then-the-dog-at/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, to rzeczywiście nie są pieniądze – lekceważąco powiedział do swego gościa Woland – chociaż szczerze mówiąc, nawet tyle nie jest panu potrzebne. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-to-rzeczywi-cie-nie-s-pieni-dze-lekcewa-co-powiedzia-do-swego-go/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never! You're asked an unexpected question, you don't even flinch, it takes just a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-tongue-can-conceal-the-truth-but-the-eyes-never-you-re-asked-an/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/this-twenty-year-old-boy-was-distinguished-from-childhood-by-strange/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“You should never ask anyone for anything. Never—and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself. They will make the offer and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/you-should-never-ask-anyone-for-anything-never-and-especially-from/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Cowardice is the greatest sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/cowardice-is-the-greatest-sin/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Too bad!' the feisty poet responded. 'Yes, too bad!' the stranger agreed, his eye flashing, and went on: 'But here is a question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/too-bad-the-feisty-poet-responded-yes-too-bad-the-stranger-agreed-his/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Don't be afraid, your majesty... Don't be afraid, your majesty, the blood has long since drained away into the earth and grapes have grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-the-blood/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“But this is what disturbs me: if there is no God, then, the question is, who is in control of man's life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/but-this-is-what-disturbs-me-if-there-is-no-god-then-the-question-is/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“If you’ve been exiled, why don’t you send me word of yourself? People do send word. Have you stopped loving me? No, for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-you-ve-been-exiled-why-don-t-you-send-me-word-of-yourself-people/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Tu nieznajomy uprzejmie zdjął beret i pisarzom nie pozostawało nic innego, jak wstać i ukłonić się.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/tu-nieznajomy-uprzejmie-zdj-beret-i-pisarzom-nie-pozostawa-o-nic/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Thou art a black God! I curse Thee, God of thieves, their soul and protector! (191)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/thou-art-a-black-god-i-curse-thee-god-of-thieves-their-soul-and/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, więc ja wysłałem depeszę. I co dalej? Popławskiemu zawirowało w głowie, stracił władzę w rękach i nogach, wypuścił z ręki walizkę i opadł…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-wi-c-ja-wys-a-em-depesz-i-co-dalej-pop-awskiemu-zawirowa-o-w-g/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) [Explore all 186 Mikhail Bulgakov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## More Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. 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You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [We must acknowledge that bearing and raising children is not some pesky, peripheral activity that we engage in, but the whole point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-maushart/we-must-acknowledge-that-bearing-and-raising-children-is-not-some/) [Susan Maushart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-maushart/) > [When we pray, we must begin by conceiving God in full and vigorous images, but we must go on to acknowledge the inadequacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/when-we-pray-we-must-begin-by-conceiving-god-in-full-and-vigorous/) [Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. 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