Good evil Quote by Paul Auster
““Good begets good; evil begets evil; and even if the good you give is met by evil, you have no choice but to go on giving better than you get. Otherwise-and these were Willy's exact words-why bother to go on living?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Illusions, Paul Auster, 2002
Good actions generate good outcomes; even when met with evil, one should continue giving better than received.
In simple terms: Give good despite evil; keep improving.
Key Takeaway
Persist in generosity.
Themes
ethics
resilience
kindness
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- community service
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
reciprocity
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you maintain generosity when faced with hostility?
- What does “giving better” look like in practice?
A Different Perspective
If evil persists, continued generosity may seem futile.
