--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being good or evil has nothing to do with…" description: "\"Being good or evil has nothing to do with religion.\" — Naseeruddin Shah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/naseeruddin-shah-5603_being_being-good-or-evil-has-nothing-to-do-wit_3134429.jpg" --- # Being good or evil has nothing to do with religion. ![“Being good or evil has nothing to do with religion.” quote by Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/naseeruddin-shah-5603_being_being-good-or-evil-has-nothing-to-do-wit_3134429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/naseeruddin-shah-5603_being_being-good-or-evil-has-nothing-to-do-wit_3134429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/naseeruddin-shah-5603_being_being-good-or-evil-has-nothing-to-do-wit_3134429.jpg) > “Being good or evil has nothing to do with religion.” [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral character is independent of religious affiliation; goodness or evil stems from personal choices, not faith. **In simple terms:** Goodness isn’t tied to religion. Key Takeaway Judge actions, not belief. Themes ethics religion human nature Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - political discourse - education - media commentary Key Concepts moral philosophy secularism Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's character without referencing faith? - Can secular ethics fully replace religious moral frameworks? A Different Perspective Religious contexts can still influence moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [If your religion doesn't teach you the difference between good and evil, your religion is worse than useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-your-religion-doesn-t-teach-you-the-difference-between-good-and/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. Destroying intellectual freedom is always evil, but only religion makes doing evil feel quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/religion-grants-its-adherents-malign-intoxicating-and-morally/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [If money is the root of all evil; religion is an evil which grows from that root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/if-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-religion-is-an-evil-which-grows-from/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [I need to learn not to bend over backwards to be nice to faith-heads. Give these people an inch and they take a league.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-need-to-learn-not-to-bend-over-backwards-to-be-nice-to-faith-heads/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I am not sure how evil religion by nature is, but I have no doubt of its stupidity and insanity in practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-not-sure-how-evil-religion-by-nature-is-but-i-have-no-doubt-of/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I tell you, we would be hard put to determine what is more evil -- religion or the pure idea. The intervention of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-tell-you-we-would-be-hard-put-to-determine-what-is-more-evil/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [If money is the root of all evil, religion is the plant that grows from that root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/if-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-religion-is-the-plant-that-grows/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [“The idea of good and evil has thus nothing to do with religion or a mystic conscience. It is a natural need of animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/the-idea-of-good-and-evil-has-thus-nothing-to-do-with-religion-or-a/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) > [In fine, a life of good or evil, the hope of Heaven or the despair of Hell, Faustus stands as a reminder that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-fine-a-life-of-good-or-evil-the-hope-of-heaven-or-the-despair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness. —ISAIAH 5:20”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cahn/woe-to-those-who-call-evil-good-and-good-evil-who-put-darkness-for/) [Jonathan Cahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cahn/) > [There surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/there-surely-is-in-human-nature-an-inherent-propensity-to-extract-all/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [I believe it's true that there's good and evil in everyone and it's a constant struggle to have your better angels prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-believe-it-s-true-that-there-s-good-and-evil-in-everyone-and-it-s-a/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [In the struggle of good against evil, it's always the people who get killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/in-the-struggle-of-good-against-evil-it-s-always-the-people-who-get/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Naseeruddin Shah > [Hindi cinema has only one religion, and that's money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/hindi-cinema-has-only-one-religion-and-that-s-money/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [To me, the most important elements in a theatre are the actors and the texts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/to-me-the-most-important-elements-in-a-theatre-are-the-actors-and-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Actors have to learn that they are as important to a movie as the camera is, as important as the sound is, and less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/actors-have-to-learn-that-they-are-as-important-to-a-movie-as-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I do what work I get. I'm disappointed half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-do-what-work-i-get-i-m-disappointed-half-the-time/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [The film industry does not interest me greatly. The people, I don't mingle with them much. I meet them when I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/the-film-industry-does-not-interest-me-greatly-the-people-i-don-t/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I was 14 and went on the stage for the first time, it stimulated me so much that I was convinced that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-was-14-and-went-on-the-stage-for-the-first-time-it-stimulated/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't want any memorials or a grave which my children would have to look after or feel guilty about. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-want-any-memorials-or-a-grave-which-my-children-would-have-to/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I think our cinema has stayed in its adolescent stage largely because of our obsession with and our dependence upon stars to make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-think-our-cinema-has-stayed-in-its-adolescent-stage-largely-because/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I never go to film festivals. I am allergic to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-never-go-to-film-festivals-i-am-allergic-to-them/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It was the '70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That's when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-was-the-70s-when-mediocrity-came-in-hindi-films-that-s-when-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I first dreamt of becoming a movie star, I wanted to be a Gary Cooper: I wanted to be rich and famous, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-first-dreamt-of-becoming-a-movie-star-i-wanted-to-be-a-gary/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I am hard put to think of a single positive thing that commercial Hindi cinema has achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-a-single-positive-thing-that-commercial/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't scoff at the desire to make good movies. I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-scoff-at-the-desire-to-make-good-movies-i-scoff-at-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I realise that I have made quite a few of the same mistakes with my kids that my dad made: not so much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-realise-that-i-have-made-quite-a-few-of-the-same-mistakes-with-my/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It would be impossible to find an actor to portray Om Puri, so I wouldn't even attempt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-would-be-impossible-to-find-an-actor-to-portray-om-puri-so-i/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) [Explore all 100 Naseeruddin Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. 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