--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. Good…" description: "\"“It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. Good intentions justify all kinds of terrible behavior.” Myron”\" — Rachel Aaron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/rachel-aaron-22752_good-intentions_it-s-one-of-humanity-s-worst-traits-good_431143.jpg" --- # It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. Good intentions… ![“It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. Good intentions justify all kinds of terrible behavior.” Myron” quote by Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/rachel-aaron-22752_good-intentions_it-s-one-of-humanity-s-worst-traits-good_431143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/rachel-aaron-22752_good-intentions_it-s-one-of-humanity-s-worst-traits-good_431143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/rachel-aaron-22752_good-intentions_it-s-one-of-humanity-s-worst-traits-good_431143.jpg) > ““It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. Good intentions justify all kinds of terrible behavior.” Myron”” [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good intentions can be used to excuse harmful actions, revealing a moral blind spot. **In simple terms:** Good intentions excuse bad deeds. Key Takeaway Question motives behind actions. Themes morality ethics human nature Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political discourse - personal relationships - activism Key Concepts justification cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate intent from impact? - When should intentions be scrutinized? A Different Perspective Good intentions may not excuse wrongdoing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [There are certain narrow, umimaginative, and autocratic old people who seem to call out the most mischievous and sometimes the worst traits in children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-douglas-wiggin/there-are-certain-narrow-umimaginative-and-autocratic-old-people-who/) [Kate Douglas Wiggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-douglas-wiggin/) > [“The veneer of civilization fell away to reveal desperate animals, humanity at their worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/the-veneer-of-civilization-fell-away-to-reveal-desperate-animals/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) > [As far as I'm concerned, ageing is humanity's worst problem, by some serious distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-de-grey/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-ageing-is-humanity-s-worst-problem-by-some/) [Aubrey de Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-de-grey/) > [It's easy to show terrible people's behavior on screen, and we all just kind of nod and go, 'Isn't that terrible.' It's more interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-s-easy-to-show-terrible-people-s-behavior-on-screen-and-we-all/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [Well in the history of the See's Candy Company they always say, "I never did it before, and I'm never going to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/well-in-the-history-of-the-see-s-candy-company-they-always-say-i/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Five common traits of good writers: (1) They have something to say. (2) They read widely and have done so since childhood. (3) They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-kilpatrick/five-common-traits-of-good-writers-1-they-have-something-to-say-2/) [James J. Kilpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-j-kilpatrick/) > [It is one of the best traits of good people that they love where they pity. And this is truer of women than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/it-is-one-of-the-best-traits-of-good-people-that-they-love-where-they/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“It is not rational when you try to ignore a person because of the one bad traits over hundred good elements”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/it-is-not-rational-when-you-try-to-ignore-a-person-because-of-the-one/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [Justice for some people is an evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-urobuchi/justice-for-some-people-is-an-evil-for-others-good-intentions/) [Gen Urobuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-urobuchi/) > [I have no control over my writing. I have lots of good intentions, but no control. There's a story that wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-no-control-over-my-writing-i-have-lots-of-good-intentions-but/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) CallHerShorty > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) ## More by Rachel Aaron > [“Never put a scene you don't love in your book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/never-put-a-scene-you-don-t-love-in-your-book/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“(The sweet spot for traditional publishing is between 80k and 100k, though Fantasy can go up to 120k.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/the-sweet-spot-for-traditional-publishing-is-between-80k-and-100k/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“Sometimes the price of doing the right thing is higher than we realize when we do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/sometimes-the-price-of-doing-the-right-thing-is-higher-than-we/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“Every writing session after this realization, I dedicated five minutes (sometimes more, never less) and wrote out a quick description of what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/every-writing-session-after-this-realization-i-dedicated-five-minutes/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“A book is not a battle, nor is it a conquest. A book is a story, and telling it should be an enjoyable exercise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/a-book-is-not-a-battle-nor-is-it-a-conquest-a-book-is-a-story-and/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“The point I'm trying to make is that by recording my progress every day, I had the data I needed to start optimizing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/the-point-i-m-trying-to-make-is-that-by-recording-my-progress-every/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“I know your mother has a secret stash. Can she get me a clean one? Free-range organic?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/i-know-your-mother-has-a-secret-stash-can-she-get-me-a-clean-one-free/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“I am a mage,” she replied with every ounce of haughtiness three years in a competitive doctoral program had taught her. “We bend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/i-am-a-mage-she-replied-with-every-ounce-of-haughtiness-three-years/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“Tension is making the reader ask a question, and then not answering it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/tension-is-making-the-reader-ask-a-question-and-then-not-answering-it/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“As such, the first question you should be asking yourself isn’t “Is this a good book?” but "Is this really the story I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/as-such-the-first-question-you-should-be-asking-yourself-isn-t-is/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“How did you get in here?' (...) 'How I got here isn't important, because I could do it twenty times again, each time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/how-did-you-get-in-here-how-i-got-here-isn-t-important-because-i/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“Every writing session after this realization, I dedicated five minutes (sometimes more, never less) and wrote out a quick description of what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/every-writing-session-after-this-realization-i-dedicated-five-minutes-2/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“He winked at their mother, who snarled at him, and Julius decided he’d better keep things moving before someone got blood all over his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/he-winked-at-their-mother-who-snarled-at-him-and-julius-decided-he-d/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“Otherwise I risk ending up with a story whose voice doesn’t match its meat, which is just about the worst problem ever to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/otherwise-i-risk-ending-up-with-a-story-whose-voice-doesn-t-match-its/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [“That said, some of my best scenes and most dramatic scenes have actually been the ones I’ve combined to get my word count down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/that-said-some-of-my-best-scenes-and-most-dramatic-scenes-have/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) [Explore all 27 Rachel Aaron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) ## More Good intentions quotes > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) CallHerShorty > [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have no control over my writing. I have lots of good intentions, but no control. There's a story that wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-no-control-over-my-writing-i-have-lots-of-good-intentions-but/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Justice for some people is an evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-urobuchi/justice-for-some-people-is-an-evil-for-others-good-intentions/) [Gen Urobuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-urobuchi/) > [“There is an important difference between openness and naïveté. Not everyone has good intentions nor means me well. I remind myself I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-is-an-important-difference-between-openness-and-na-vet-not/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“I reach out in love, my hands are guns, my good intentions are completely lethal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-reach-out-in-love-my-hands-are-guns-my-good-intentions-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Start your day with good intentions and set yourself up for a good attitude. It's not what happens to you that matters but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/start-your-day-with-good-intentions-and-set-yourself-up-for-a-good/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“It wasn't good, he wasn't good, he did not have good intentions. I stood there, and he stood there. He breathed out the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-wasn-t-good-he-wasn-t-good-he-did-not-have-good-intentions-i-stood/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“Map-making had never been a precise art on the Discworld. People tended to start off with good intentions and then get so carried away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/map-making-had-never-been-a-precise-art-on-the-discworld-people/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/) Samuel Gridley Howe > [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Neither smiles nor frowns, neither good intentions nor harsh words, are a substitute for strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/neither-smiles-nor-frowns-neither-good-intentions-nor-harsh-words-are/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 568 Good intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s one of humanity’s worst traits. 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