--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear…" description: "\"Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed shtick. Wallowing is despair is a bad habit. Indulging in cynicism is akin to committing a cop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/rob-brezsny-7732_bad-habit_obsessing-on-evil-is-boring-rousing-fear_1953029.png" --- # Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed… ![“Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed shtick. Wallowing is despair is a bad habit. Indulging in cynicism is akin to committing a copycat crime.” quote by Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/rob-brezsny-7732_bad-habit_obsessing-on-evil-is-boring-rousing-fear_1953029.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/rob-brezsny-7732_bad-habit_obsessing-on-evil-is-boring-rousing-fear_1953029.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/rob-brezsny-7732_bad-habit_obsessing-on-evil-is-boring-rousing-fear_1953029.png) > “Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed shtick. Wallowing is despair is a bad habit. Indulging in cynicism is akin to committing a copycat crime.” [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsessing on evil distracts from meaningful engagement; fear tactics become stale, and cynicism breeds despair and unoriginal negativity. **In simple terms:** Focusing on negativity and fear is unproductive and unoriginal. Key Takeaway Shift focus to constructive, hopeful actions. Themes mindset negativity fear cynicism creativity Mood reflective critical inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - public speaking - creative work - community building Key Concepts psychology media influence ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you replace fear‑based messaging with inspiring narratives? - What habits help avoid cynical thinking? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on negativity can alienate audiences and stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Copycats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copycats/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Indulging Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indulging-cynicism-3181498/) [Obsessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessing/) [Obsessing Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessing-evil-3181496/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Rousing Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rousing-fear-3181497/) [Wallowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wallowing/) ## Related quotes > [“I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky. In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics: Plagiarize!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-am-never-forget-the-day-i-first-meet-the-great-lobachevsky-in-one/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [As long as you're being a copycat, you will never be the best copycat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/as-long-as-you-re-being-a-copycat-you-will-never-be-the-best-copycat/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [All you n-ggas copycats doing sh-t I used to, oh you tatted too, n-gga f-ck you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/all-you-n-ggas-copycats-doing-sh-t-i-used-to-oh-you-tatted-too-n-gga/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [ I am writing from the heart and having a fresh approach to things. We \[Theocracy\] are obviously not trying to musically re-invent the wheel… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/i-am-writing-from-the-heart-and-having-a-fresh-approach-to-things-we/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [Because when I'm a copycat I'm never good! But when I'm Eric Thomas, I'm great! I'm great at what I do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/because-when-i-m-a-copycat-i-m-never-good-but-when-i-m-eric-thomas-i/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I spent a lot of years working for Ralph Lauren, and he had so many copycats, from Tommy Hilfiger to Abercrombie & Fitch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-varvatos/i-spent-a-lot-of-years-working-for-ralph-lauren-and-he-had-so-many/) [John Varvatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-varvatos/) > [I'm not really against a lot of things unless they are just pure exploitation and then they create their own copycat culture that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-m-not-really-against-a-lot-of-things-unless-they-are-just-pure/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [“Be yourself because an original is worth more than just a copy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/be-yourself-because-an-original-is-worth-more-than-just-a-copy/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Well, when I was a young writer the people we read were Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Sartre, Camus, Celine, Malraux. And to begin with, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordecai-richler/well-when-i-was-a-young-writer-the-people-we-read-were-hemingway/) [Mordecai Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordecai-richler/) > [Everyone goes to the same exhibitions and the same parties, stays in the same handful of hotels, eats at the same no-star restaurants, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/everyone-goes-to-the-same-exhibitions-and-the-same-parties-stays-in/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Generally, you are held to a sound and that becomes your sound. That gets branded as your sound, and all the copycats start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/generally-you-are-held-to-a-sound-and-that-becomes-your-sound-that/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [How many more copycats are waiting in the wings for their moment of fame — from a national media machine that rewards them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/how-many-more-copycats-are-waiting-in-the-wings-for-their-moment-of/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [One of the problems with studies that examine the effects of violent imagery is that they typically use mentally healthy psychology students. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-problems-with-studies-that-examine-the-effects-of-violent/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [“FRUITS AND NUTS Keep jumping around them like monkeys. The clones, Commercialized zombies, And the TV junkies. Keep throwing berries, Twigs, And nuts at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/fruits-and-nuts-keep-jumping-around-them-like-monkeys-the-clones/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [My worry is that Donald Trump may inspire copycats, also in Europe. That's why I hope Hillary Clinton wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/my-worry-is-that-donald-trump-may-inspire-copycats-also-in-europe/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) ## More by Rob Brezsny > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. 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Your imagination is your power to create mental pictures of things that don't exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/your-imagination-is-the-single-most-important-asset-you-possess-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [“Imagine that the whole world belongs to you. The birch trees in New Hampshire's White Mountains are yours, and so are the cirrus clouds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/imagine-that-the-whole-world-belongs-to-you-the-birch-trees-in-new/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Here's what I say: We will ignore the cult of doom and gloom and embrace the cause of zoom and boom. We will laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/here-s-what-i-say-we-will-ignore-the-cult-of-doom-and-gloom-and/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [We're not going to waste our valuable space or your precious energy by giving equal time to stories of tragedy, failure, and tumult. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/we-re-not-going-to-waste-our-valuable-space-or-your-precious-energy/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [But you will be hard-pressed to find more than a few novels, films, news stories, and TV shows that dare to depict life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/but-you-will-be-hard-pressed-to-find-more-than-a-few-novels-films/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [HYPOTHESES: Evil is boring. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit. Despair is lazy. Joy is fascinating. Love is an act of heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/hypotheses-evil-is-boring-cynicism-is-idiotic-fear-is-a-bad-habit/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) [Explore all 88 Rob Brezsny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) ## More Bad habit quotes > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/) [Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/) > [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [Im not actually this tall, Ive got this bad habit of sitting on my wallet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan/im-not-actually-this-tall-ive-got-this-bad-habit-of-sitting-on-my/) [Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan/) > [Sometimes it doesn't take much to slip back into bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/sometimes-it-doesn-t-take-much-to-slip-back-into-bad-habits/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [I have the same friends and the same bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/i-have-the-same-friends-and-the-same-bad-habits/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. 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They have slipped into the American mind more misinformation in one evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/movies-are-one-of-the-bad-habits-that-have-corrupted-our-century-they/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) [Browse all 567 Bad habit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obsessing on evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed shtick. Wallowing is despair is a bad habit. 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