--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The choice between good and evil is all a…" description: "\"“The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between the greater evil and the lesser evil. Every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg" --- # The choice between good and evil is all a matter of… ![“The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between the greater evil and the lesser evil. Every choice in life is relative. It is not a question of whether what Krishna did was good or bad. The question is whether it would have resulted in…” quote by Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg) > ““The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between the greater evil and the lesser evil. Every choice in life is relative. It is not a question of whether what Krishna did was good or bad. The question is whether it would have resulted in good or bad had he not done what he did. The question would be much easier if it was a simple choice between good and bad, but this is not the case in reality. The realities of life are that it is always the choice between greater evils and lesser evils.”” [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral decisions are rarely black and white; they involve weighing greater versus lesser evils. **In simple terms:** Choices are relative. Key Takeaway Consider consequences, not labels. Themes ethics relativism decisionmaking Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business ethics - personal dilemmas - policy making - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy morality Questions to Reflect On - When faced with a tough choice, what outcome matters most? - How do you define “greater” evil? A Different Perspective Not all situations fit a simple good‑evil binary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-good-522909/) [Evil Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-choice-1125692/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Good evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-evil/) [Lesser evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesser-evil/) [Life decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-decisions/) [Question Krishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-krishna-1125693/) [Tough decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [“Before we set out to do good, it is necessary to consider if it will result in evil. It is equally necessary to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/before-we-set-out-to-do-good-it-is-necessary-to-consider-if-it-will/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The fact that you are possessed by a demon does not mean you must become evil. Being evil is a choice, just as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-swain/the-fact-that-you-are-possessed-by-a-demon-does-not-mean-you-must/) [James Swain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-swain/) > [In every human being, there is potential for good just as much as there is potential for evil. The choice is yours and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-every-human-being-there-is-potential-for-good-just-as-much-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everythings a choice. Nobody's born good. Nobody's born evil. It's always a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/everythings-a-choice-nobody-s-born-good-nobody-s-born-evil-it-s/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“Evil is a choice one makes, not a natural state of being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/evil-is-a-choice-one-makes-not-a-natural-state-of-being/) [Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/) > [“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 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/) > [“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/) > [It is our choice of good or evil that determines our character, not our opinion about good or evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-our-choice-of-good-or-evil-that-determines-our-character-not/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [God gave us two gifts; one is choice, second is chance...The choice of a good life and The chance to make it the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/god-gave-us-two-gifts-one-is-choice-second-is-chance-the-choice-of-a/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“Dysfunctional Belief: To be happy, I have to make the right choice. Reframe: There is no right choice—only good choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/dysfunctional-belief-to-be-happy-i-have-to-make-the-right-choice/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“It is downright incredible that an extremely significant proportion of people make the wrong choice. But the good news is that we can course-correct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamees-alhassar/it-is-downright-incredible-that-an-extremely-significant-proportion/) [Lamees Alhassar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamees-alhassar/) ## More by Osho > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“If you love a person, you project things which are not there. If you hate a person, again you project things which are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/if-you-love-a-person-you-project-things-which-are-not-there-if-you/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Whenever one starts meditating, the mind becomes rebellious. It starts all types of arguments: “What are you doing, why are you wasting time? Use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/whenever-one-starts-meditating-the-mind-becomes-rebellious-it-starts/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Whatever has been said about you by others, simply drop it. It is absolutely crap. They don’t know about themselves; what can they say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/whatever-has-been-said-about-you-by-others-simply-drop-it-it-is/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“They happen only when you are distant,aloof. They happen, they cannot be brought. They happen you cannot force them to happen. They are spontaneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/they-happen-only-when-you-are-distant-aloof-they-happen-they-cannot/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The ego is possible only in conflict, struggle. If you have nothing to fight about, you will create some way or other to fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-possible-only-in-conflict-struggle-if-you-have-nothing-to/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Politics is mundane; politicians are servants of the people. Religion is sacred; it guides peoples spiritual growth. Politics is the lowest as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/politics-is-mundane-politicians-are-servants-of-the-people-religion/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“There is a great need to be needed. Remember, you feel good whenever you are needed. Sometimes, even if it brings misery to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/there-is-a-great-need-to-be-needed-remember-you-feel-good-whenever/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“All possible resources have to be used, so that you can learn to use your anger in such a way that it becomes compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/all-possible-resources-have-to-be-used-so-that-you-can-learn-to-use/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The three religions born outside India don’t have any name for it because they never went far in search of oneself. They remained childish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-three-religions-born-outside-india-don-t-have-any-name-for-it/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Shiva is saying: the body is a product of nature and your will to do. The nature is merely the source, the womb. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/shiva-is-saying-the-body-is-a-product-of-nature-and-your-will-to-do/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“No, life is meant to be a celebration; celebration is its central note. If someone asks you, better ask this question of yourself: ”Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/no-life-is-meant-to-be-a-celebration-celebration-is-its-central-note/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Imagination is a great force. On the path of meditation, imagination is a barrier; on the path of love, imagination is a help. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/imagination-is-a-great-force-on-the-path-of-meditation-imagination-is/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Yoga means that now there is no hope, now there is no future, now there are no desires. One is ready to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/yoga-means-that-now-there-is-no-hope-now-there-is-no-future-now-there/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) [Explore all 479 Osho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between the greater evil and the lesser evil. Every choice in life is relative. It is not a question of whether what Krishna did was good or bad. The question is whether it would have resulted in good or bad had he not done what he did. The question would be much easier if it was a simple choice between good and bad, but this is not the case in reality. The realities of life are that it is always the choice between greater evils and lesser evils.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Osho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all-a-matter-of-doctrine-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all-a-matter-of-doctrine-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/osho-519_bad_the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all_2507802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The choice between good and evil is all a matter of doctrine. In reality, one always has to choose between…” — Osho", "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": "Osho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The choice between good and evil...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all-a-matter-of-doctrine-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-choice-between-good-and-evil-is-all-a-matter-of-doctrine-in/#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 } } ] } ```