Evil Quote by Raymond E. Feist
““Have you ever wronged a man . . . just to do him harm? Or have you always had a reason?’ Kaspar answered quickly. ‘There was always a reason.’ ‘There you have it,’ said Samas as he sat down. He motioned for Kaspar to fetch over a cup of water for him. ‘You would never look at yourself as “evil” no matter what the other fellow thought of what you did. It’s in our nature. And that’s the great secret of evil. It is never viewed as evil by those who perpetrate the evil.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Magician by Raymond E. Feist, 1982
Evil is often rationalized by perpetrators who never see themselves as bad, making moral blindness a self‑preserving secret.
In simple terms: People justify harm by refusing to label themselves evil.
Key Takeaway
Recognize self‑deception in moral judgments.
Themes
morality
self‑deception
psychology
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal conflict
- justice system
- interpersonal abuse
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever excuse harmful actions because you don’t see yourself as evil?
- How does self‑perception shape moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
It ignores structural causes of harm beyond individual intent.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
