Character Quote by Norman Mailer
““I'm not interested in absolute moral judgments. Just think of what it means to be a good man or a bad one. What, after all, is the measure of difference? The good guy may be 65 per cent good and 35 per cent bad—that's a very good guy. The average decent fellow might be 54 per cent good, 46 per cent bad—and the average mean spirit is the reverse. So say I'm 60 per cent bad and 40 per cent good—for that, must I suffer eternal punishment? "Heaven and Hell make no sense if the majority of humans are a complex mixture of good and evil. There's no reason to receive a reward if you're 57/43—why sit around forever in an elevated version of Club Med? That's almost impossible to contemplate.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Faith of the Faithless, 1965
Moral character is a blend of good and bad; judging by pure absolutes is unrealistic and unfair.
In simple terms: People are mixes of good and bad; absolutes don’t work.
Key Takeaway
Accept moral complexity, avoid simplistic judgments.
Themes
morality
complexity
judgment
fairness
Mood
thoughtful
critical
philosophical
Type
essay
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- legal decisions
- parenting
- community leadership
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
human nature
philosophy of good andevil
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we hold people accountable while acknowledging complexity?
- Where is the line between good and evil?
A Different Perspective
It may excuse harmful behavior by over‑emphasizing nuance.
