--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most disturbing thing, I think, with…" description: "\"The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is to see that they completely feel that they h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg" --- # The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do… ![“The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is to see that they completely feel that they had no choice in the matter.” quote by Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg) > “The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is to see that they completely feel that they had no choice in the matter.” [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who commit immoral acts often convince themselves they had no choice, which is deeply unsettling. **In simple terms:** Moral excuses mask true agency. Key Takeaway Challenge self‑justifications. Themes ethics psychology responsibility Mood somber critical Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - legal judgments - therapy - leadership training - public policy Key Concepts free will moral agency denial Questions to Reflect On - Why do we rationalize harmful actions? - How can accountability be fostered? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can be hard to confront. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I like things that go into hidden, mysterious places, places I want to explore that are very disturbing. 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They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“But I feel like letting other people be good for me--after all, I'm just an unhappy little girl and even if I'm extremely intelligent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/but-i-feel-like-letting-other-people-be-good-for-me-after-all-i-m/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [God save us from people who do the morally right thing. It's always the rest of us who get broken in half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/god-save-us-from-people-who-do-the-morally-right-thing-it-s-always/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [“This is the tragedy of the postmodern age. The things that matter most in life, that are necessary for a humane society—ideals like moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/this-is-the-tragedy-of-the-postmodern-age-the-things-that-matter-most/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Of all the characteristics needed for both a happy and morally decent life, none surpasses gratitude. Grateful people are happier, and grateful people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/of-all-the-characteristics-needed-for-both-a-happy-and-morally-decent/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [In the best stories, people are morally complex; they are flawed. We read them because the world is flawed, and we want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-smith/in-the-best-stories-people-are-morally-complex-they-are-flawed-we/) [Russell Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-smith/) > [God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-grace-does-not-come-to-people-who-morally-outperform-others-but/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The truth which has made us free will in the end make us glad also. Every outcry against the oppression of some people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-truth-which-has-made-us-free-will-in-the-end-make-us-glad-also/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [I do think sometimes people get morally superior without understanding situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/i-do-think-sometimes-people-get-morally-superior-without/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [I always end up taking people that are morally ambiguous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crudup/i-always-end-up-taking-people-that-are-morally-ambiguous/) [Billy Crudup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crudup/) > [The conception of worth, that each person is an end per se, is not a mere abstraction. Our interest in it is not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-conception-of-worth-that-each-person-is-an-end-per-se-is-not-a/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [If I have a mission in life, it is to convince people that everyone is morally motivated - everyone except for psychopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/if-i-have-a-mission-in-life-it-is-to-convince-people-that-everyone-is/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [But the most important lesson I have learned in my twenty years or research on morality is that nearly all people are morally motivated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/but-the-most-important-lesson-i-have-learned-in-my-twenty-years-or/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) ## More by Tamzin Merchant > [When I directed my first short - 'American Virgin' - I had no idea if I could actually do it. Like, I might just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/when-i-directed-my-first-short-american-virgin-i-had-no-idea-if-i/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [Days are long when you're filming, so I catch up on sleep during breaks to avoid looking tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/days-are-long-when-you-re-filming-so-i-catch-up-on-sleep-during/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [People say never work with children and animals. I actually like working with Oliver Bell, and working with a rat really opens possibilities to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/people-say-never-work-with-children-and-animals-i-actually-like/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [There's nothing worse than a director who feels more like a cop than a comrade, so I try to never give orders or create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-director-who-feels-more-like-a-cop-than/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [We show our faces to support the billions of young people who suffer a lack of education. We show our faces to honour the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/we-show-our-faces-to-support-the-billions-of-young-people-who-suffer/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [Don't shop when you're hungry or in a grumpy mood. You need to feel happy and confident to make the best decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/don-t-shop-when-you-re-hungry-or-in-a-grumpy-mood-you-need-to-feel/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [We show our faces to demand that politicians making promises stick to those promises. We show our faces to ensure that the youth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/we-show-our-faces-to-demand-that-politicians-making-promises-stick-to/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [I've always been drawn to storytelling, and acting is the most immersive form of storytelling you can get involved with! 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And we can help unlock it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/looking-forward-we-see-that-it-is-the-youth-of-today-who-hold-the-key/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [My favourite colour is red, but I also like jewel tones and monochrome, while my preferred shapes include A-line skirts and skinny trousers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/my-favourite-colour-is-red-but-i-also-like-jewel-tones-and-monochrome/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) [Explore all 14 Tamzin Merchant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. 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Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is to see that they completely feel that they had no choice in the matter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tamzin Merchant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-people-that-do-very-morally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-people-that-do-very-morally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tamzin-merchant-34284_choice_the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-p_527267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most disturbing thing, I think, with people that do very morally devious things more and more often is…” — Tamzin Merchant", "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": "Tamzin Merchant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most disturbing thing, I think,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-people-that-do-very-morally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/the-most-disturbing-thing-i-think-with-people-that-do-very-morally/#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 } } ] } ```