--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To prefer evil to good is not in human…" description: "\"To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/plato-103_compelled_to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-n_1442519.jpg" --- # To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a… ![“To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might have the less.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/plato-103_compelled_to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-n_1442519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/plato-103_compelled_to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-n_1442519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/plato-103_compelled_to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-n_1442519.jpg) > “To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might have the less.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the lesser evil is natural; people avoid the greater evil when a lesser option exists. **In simple terms:** People prefer the lesser evil. Key Takeaway Seek the lesser evil when faced with bad choices. Themes ethics human nature choice Mood analytical serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political dilemmas - personal ethics - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral philosophy decision theory Questions to Reflect On - What determines a “lesser” evil? - Can true good be achieved without compromise? A Different Perspective Sometimes the lesser evil still causes harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-evils-3240996/) [Compelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compelled/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-good/) [Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils/) [Evils Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-choose-1190951/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Prefer Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-evil-5166466/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-you-must-choose-between-two-evils-pick-the-one-you-ve-never-tried/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Of two evils, I always choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/of-two-evils-i-always-choose-the-lesser/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [Of two evils we must always choose the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-least/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Of two evils choose the prettier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/of-two-evils-choose-the-prettier/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/between-two-evils-choose-neither-between-two-goods-choose-both/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [“Between two evils, I choose the one I’ve never tried before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinlein-robert-a/between-two-evils-i-choose-the-one-i-ve-never-tried-before/) [Heinlein Robert A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinlein-robert-a/) > [ Of evils one should choose the least. \[Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Of two evils, choose the more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/of-two-evils-choose-the-more-interesting/) [Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/) > [Of two evils choose the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/of-two-evils-choose-the-least/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Of two evils, choose neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/of-two-evils-choose-neither/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [It is better to fall from the window than the roof; that is, of two evils, choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-fall-from-the-window-than-the-roof-that-is-of-two/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [In the real world in which we live, you always have to choose between evils. 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