---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural…"
description: "\"“Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.”\" — Morgan Rhodes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg"
---

#  Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.

![“Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.” quote by Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg)

> ““Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.””

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Evil arises from deliberate choices, not from an inherent nature.

**In simple terms:** Evil is a choice.

Key Takeaway

Choose good over harm.

Themes

morality choice human nature

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political decisions
- personal relationships
- media consumption

Key Concepts

ethics philosophy free will

Questions to Reflect On

- What choices define your character?
- Can circumstances justify harmful actions?

A Different Perspective

Complex factors influence behavior beyond simple choice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-makes-1545635/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-choice-1125692/) [Natural state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-state/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/)

## Related quotes

> [“We all have our things that we would rather live without. It's how we live with them when we have no choice that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/we-all-have-our-things-that-we-would-rather-live-without-it-s-how-we/)

[Comic Strip Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comic-strip-mama/)

> [In every waking moment, it is our next choice that makes us who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mcphail/in-every-waking-moment-it-is-our-next-choice-that-makes-us-who-we-are/)

[Melissa McPhail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mcphail/)

> [“Heaven or Hell has ALWAYS been a choice one makes, and has never been a place one goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/heaven-or-hell-has-always-been-a-choice-one-makes-and-has-never-been/)

[Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/)

> [Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/man-has-a-choice-and-it-s-a-choice-that-makes-him-a-man/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I'd always much rather be second choice on anything because it makes you work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-d-always-much-rather-be-second-choice-on-anything-because-it-makes/)

[Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/)

> [Leadership is a choice one makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/leadership-is-a-choice-one-makes/)

[Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/)

> [It's choice that makes us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-choice-that-makes-us-human/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Golf isn't a game, it's a choice that one makes with one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rosin/golf-isn-t-a-game-it-s-a-choice-that-one-makes-with-one-s-life/)

[Charles Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rosin/)

> [The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule , between good and evil but between two evils. You can let the Nazis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-choice-before-human-beings-is-not-as-a-rule-between-good-and-evil/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [The first evil choice or act is linked to the second; and each one to the one that follows, both by the tendency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-first-evil-choice-or-act-is-linked-to-the-second-and-each-one-to/)

[Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/)

> [“Good begets good; evil begets evil; and even if the good you give is met by evil, you have no choice but to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/good-begets-good-evil-begets-evil-and-even-if-the-good-you-give-is/)

[Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/)

> [“The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between the greater evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all-a-matter-of-doctrine-in/)

[Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/)

> [aren't they the very reason I have to try to fight? Because what has been done to them is so wrong, so beyond justification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/aren-t-they-the-very-reason-i-have-to-try-to-fight-because-what-has/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“Had God kept from being made those who through His goodness were to have existence, but who by their own choice were to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/had-god-kept-from-being-made-those-who-through-his-goodness-were-to/)

[John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/)

> [“We all make choices, Cossack. Who we are in this world, what we do in it. Generous or selfish. Happy or sad. Good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/we-all-make-choices-cossack-who-we-are-in-this-world-what-we-do-in-it/)

[Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/)

## More by Morgan Rhodes

> [“You are the only light I can see anymore,” he’d whispered. “And, whatever the cost, I refuse to let that light be extinguished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/you-are-the-only-light-i-can-see-anymore-he-d-whispered-and-whatever/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“You're the same as you were yesterday and the day before. Nothing has changed. Not really. Forget what troubles you. Regret nothing, but learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/you-re-the-same-as-you-were-yesterday-and-the-day-before-nothing-has/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Whispered stories could turn to shouted truths as quick as day became night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/whispered-stories-could-turn-to-shouted-truths-as-quick-as-day-became/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Even paradise could become a prison if one had enough time to take notice of the walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/even-paradise-could-become-a-prison-if-one-had-enough-time-to-take/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“My grief has burrowed into me like a dark thing that eats away at my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/my-grief-has-burrowed-into-me-like-a-dark-thing-that-eats-away-at-my/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Still seasick?” Milo asked. “What does it look like?” Milo laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes. I can’t believe you’ve never been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/still-seasick-milo-asked-what-does-it-look-like-milo-laughed-i-ll/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“It’s when we feel the most uncertain,” her mother had told her, “that we must appear at our most confident. To show weakness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/it-s-when-we-feel-the-most-uncertain-her-mother-had-told-her-that-we/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Allow your heart to have faith no matter what. It's what will give you strength in troubled times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/allow-your-heart-to-have-faith-no-matter-what-it-s-what-will-give-you/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“If Kyan learned about Lucia’s dream visit with Timotheus, he’d be furious. And since Lucia had quickly learned during their travels that the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/if-kyan-learned-about-lucia-s-dream-visit-with-timotheus-he-d-be/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“But she didn't fall. Someone was there, reaching an arm around her waist to steady her. She looked up expecting to see Nic, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/but-she-didn-t-fall-someone-was-there-reaching-an-arm-around-her/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“I’m not sure the prince was ever taught the polite way to speak to people,” Cleo replied. “And yet,” Magnus said, “you’re still following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/i-m-not-sure-the-prince-was-ever-taught-the-polite-way-to-speak-to/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“I know you didn’t grow up in a palace, but you should at least know that it’s not very smart or polite to wink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/i-know-you-didn-t-grow-up-in-a-palace-but-you-should-at-least-know/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“She could think of no other reason for this boy to continue to visit her if not to use her in some way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/she-could-think-of-no-other-reason-for-this-boy-to-continue-to-visit/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Hope. Hope is for fools.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/hope-hope-is-for-fools/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

> [“Jonas studied the tall, muscular boy who’d just taken out five guards single-handedly. “Impossible challenges, huh?” Felix laughed. “The most enjoyable ones. So what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/jonas-studied-the-tall-muscular-boy-who-d-just-taken-out-five-guards/)

[Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

[Explore all 83 Morgan Rhodes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/)

## More Choice quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/)

[Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

[Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/)

> [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/)

[Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/)

> [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/)

[Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/)

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/)

[Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

[Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Morgan Rhodes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural-state-of-being/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural-state-of-being/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/morgan-rhodes-8087_choices_evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural_2123543.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.” — Morgan Rhodes",
                "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": "Morgan Rhodes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Evil is a choice one makes,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural-state-of-being/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural-state-of-being/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
