Evil Quote by Noam Chomsky
“I don't see much use in general slogans. Sometimes it is worth resisting evil with lesser evil, very commonly in fact.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: “The Limits of Slogans”, 2015
Slogans often oversimplify complex issues; sometimes using a lesser evil is a pragmatic, though imperfect, response.
In simple terms: Slogans can be simplistic; sometimes a lesser evil is necessary.
Key Takeaway
Question the simplicity of slogans.
Themes
ethics
politics
communication
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- activism
- media analysis
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
philosophy
pragmatism
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a lesser evil acceptable?
- What are the risks of oversimplification?
A Different Perspective
Might justify harmful actions under the guise of necessity.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
