--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easy to explain away evil. We have a…" description: "\"It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse, because I don't always make good choices. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg" --- # It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and… ![“It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse, because I don't always make good choices. Other people make bad choices. I make bad choices. And sometimes we hurt other people. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally.” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg) > “It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse, because I don't always make good choices. Other people make bad choices. I make bad choices. And sometimes we hurt other people. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally.” [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil is rationalized; free will leads to both good and bad choices, causing harm. **In simple terms:** Free will lets us choose good or bad, causing hurt. Key Takeaway Reflect on your choices. Themes morality free will consequence Mood thoughtful serious Type reflective ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - parenting - policy making Key Concepts ethics human nature responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What choices have caused unintended harm? - How can you improve decision making? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex moral psychology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Away Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-evil-729147/) [Bad choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-choices/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-hurt-406499/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-free-2686732/) [Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain/) [Explain Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-away-1690374/) [Free choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) [Good choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-choices/) [Greatest blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-blessings/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [Call it no more free-will, but slavish lust; free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loosens the bands of wickedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/call-it-no-more-free-will-but-slavish-lust-free-to-evil-but-free-from/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [It is false that the will, left to itself, can do good as well as evil, for it is not free, but in bondage...On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-false-that-the-will-left-to-itself-can-do-good-as-well-as-evil/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [For the are times in life where we need to make choices choices that will hurt us presently but make us smile in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/for-the-are-times-in-life-where-we-need-to-make-choices-choices-that/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [; You cant rewrite your history when your choices hurt others in ways you can never understand. Take responsibility and ownership instead of pretending otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cant-rewrite-your-history-when-your-choices-hurt-others-in-ways/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Good people make bad choices every day. Sometimes those choices hurt people, people they love. We can choose to stay angry and remain imprisoned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-people-make-bad-choices-every-day-sometimes-those-choices-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's bad enough for me to make choices that hurt my own relationship with God. How much more serious is it to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/it-s-bad-enough-for-me-to-make-choices-that-hurt-my-own-relationship/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [“Put away evil from your flesh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/put-away-evil-from-your-flesh/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [By chasing away the Evil in us we will also chase away the Good. This is mans paradox, to search himself without ever fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/by-chasing-away-the-evil-in-us-we-will-also-chase-away-the-good-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“Be not wise in your own eyes;          n fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-not-wise-in-your-own-eyes-n-fear-the-lord-and-turn-away-from-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You're only two handshakes away from evil… Maybe it's the same thing with goodness. We're never far from what's good… It doesn't seem like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-kazinski/you-re-only-two-handshakes-away-from-evil-maybe-it-s-the-same-thing/) [A.J. Kazinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-kazinski/) > [Youth should stay away from all evil, especially things that produce wickedness and ill-will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/youth-should-stay-away-from-all-evil-especially-things-that-produce/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Cast not yourself away from Evil. Instead, embrace it with open arms, control it and overcome it within your inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cast-not-yourself-away-from-evil-instead-embrace-it-with-open-arms/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... No one "gets away" with evil. Judgment always comes, only the timing is uncertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/no-one-gets-away-with-evil-judgment-always-comes-only-the-timing-is/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [To explain away the mystery of a great painting - if such a feat were possible - would do irreparable harm... If there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/to-explain-away-the-mystery-of-a-great-painting-if-such-a-feat-were/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [A premature attempt to explain something that thrills you will destroy your perceptivity rather than increase it, because your tendency will be to explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/a-premature-attempt-to-explain-something-that-thrills-you-will/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) ## More by Rick Warren > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/change-always-starts-in-your-mind-the-way-you-think-determines-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If it grows on a plant, it's healthy. If it's made in a plant, don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-it-grows-on-a-plant-it-s-healthy-if-it-s-made-in-a-plant-don-t-eat/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Those that innovate the future understand history the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/those-that-innovate-the-future-understand-history-the-best/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-look-at-the-world-you-ll-be-distressed-if-you-look-within-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We become whatever we are committed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-become-whatever-we-are-committed-to/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“but it does mean God is able to redeem any and all situations and use them for his own good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-it-does-mean-god-is-able-to-redeem-any-and-all-situations-and-use/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Well actually I don't think it's a bunch of bad things that send us to hell. I think it is rejection of God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/well-actually-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-bunch-of-bad-things-that-send-us/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) [Explore all 847 Rick Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More Bad choices quotes > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“What would you think if I told you that, yes, your bad choices and decisions have had a part in your ending up under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/what-would-you-think-if-i-told-you-that-yes-your-bad-choices-and/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [ Loneliness is something we \[all people\] go through. We go through mourning and longing. We make some bad choices sometimes because we're desperate for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/loneliness-is-something-we-all-people-go-through-we-go-through/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [“Do More. Be More. You were made for more! Take all the chances and leaps. Every single step of the journey is a maze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinonye-j-chidolue/do-more-be-more-you-were-made-for-more-take-all-the-chances-and-leaps/) [Chinonye J. Chidolue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinonye-j-chidolue/) > [In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions, their ludicrously bad choices, their lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/in-lullabies-i-wanted-to-capture-what-i-remembered-of-the-drunken/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [ Britney and I wore matching denim outfits \[to the 2001 American Music Awards\]. Yeah, another bad choice. I’d probably pay good money to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/britney-and-i-wore-matching-denim-outfits-to-the-2001-american-music/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [Your life is like credit. If you make bad choices and decisions its gonna effect everything in your life as well as yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-life-is-like-credit-if-you-make-bad-choices-and-decisions-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I love painting. I love drawing. I’m never let down, even when the picture isn’t exactly what I want. I can keep working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-cagan/i-love-painting-i-love-drawing-i-m-never-let-down-even-when-the/) [Kayla Cagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla-cagan/) > [Everyone makes mistakes in life, but that doesnt mean they have to pay for them the rest of their life sometimes good people make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vvn/everyone-makes-mistakes-in-life-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-have-to-pay/) [VVN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vvn/) > [Sometimes, good people make bad choices. It doesn't mean they're bad…it means they're human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-good-people-make-bad-choices-it-doesn-t-mean-they-re-bad-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For good-intentioned people making decisions, there's no such thing as a bad choice. So it doesn't matter what you choose. Choose something, then deliberately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/for-good-intentioned-people-making-decisions-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Love is too strong and life is too short. You have to love with your heart and live with your faith; you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-wainwright/love-is-too-strong-and-life-is-too-short-you-have-to-love-with-your/) [Abby Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-wainwright/) > [I am the result of the good choices I've made and the bad choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-am-the-result-of-the-good-choices-i-ve-made-and-the-bad-choices/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“Sometimes, when I read, it's not just fiction while I'm between the pages. It’s real. My heart races when they kiss, and I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hart/sometimes-when-i-read-it-s-not-just-fiction-while-i-m-between-the/) [Emma Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hart/) > [I've lost a bunch of friends - some of them in jail, some of them made bad choices, some of them aren't where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-lost-a-bunch-of-friends-some-of-them-in-jail-some-of-them-made/) [Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/) [Browse all 202 Bad choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse, because I don't always make good choices. Other people make bad choices. I make bad choices. And sometimes we hurt other people. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Warren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a-free-choice-and-our-greatest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a-free-choice-and-our-greatest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/rick-warren-230_bad-choices_it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a_521253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice, and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse…” — Rick Warren", "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": "Rick Warren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's easy to explain away evil....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a-free-choice-and-our-greatest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-s-easy-to-explain-away-evil-we-have-a-free-choice-and-our-greatest/#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 } } ] } ```