--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell you, commander, it's true that…" description: "\"I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/terry-pratchett-19_done_i-tell-you-commander-it-s-true-that-some_616293.jpg" --- # I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most… ![“I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/terry-pratchett-19_done_i-tell-you-commander-it-s-true-that-some_616293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/terry-pratchett-19_done_i-tell-you-commander-it-s-true-that-some_616293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/terry-pratchett-19_done_i-tell-you-commander-it-s-true-that-some_616293.jpg) > “I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may commit horrific acts believing they serve a higher good, especially when religious conviction is involved. **In simple terms:** Good intentions can hide terrible deeds. Key Takeaway Question motives behind actions claimed as righteous. Themes morality religion ethics power Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - political leadership - religious movements - social activism - personal decisions Key Concepts faith dogma psychology political ideology Questions to Reflect On - When does belief become harmful? - Can good intentions justify harmful outcomes? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all such actors are sincere, ignoring cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“...it's true that some if the most terrible things in the works are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-true-that-some-if-the-most-terrible-things-in-the-works-are-done/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I hate seeing people that look like you. Especially if God's living by the motto 'If at first you don't succeed.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-hate-seeing-people-that-look-like-you-especially-if-god-s-living-by/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Whatever you do, do it so well that people looking on will feel that the task was reserved especially for you by God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/whatever-you-do-do-it-so-well-that-people-looking-on-will-feel-that/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [THERE IS NO WAY I CAN BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOD CREATED ME TO BE WHO I AM.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-williams/there-is-no-way-i-can-be-what-you-want-me-to-be-especially-when-god/) [WALTER WILLIAMS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-williams/) > [“The commonplace becomes exceptional when God is involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-baer/the-commonplace-becomes-exceptional-when-god-is-involved/) [Judy Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-baer/) > [“A pine cone cannot fall from a tree unless God is involved. A bumblebee cannot pollenate a flower or sting your arm apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-buzzard/a-pine-cone-cannot-fall-from-a-tree-unless-god-is-involved-a/) [Justin Buzzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-buzzard/) > [When God is involved, anything can happen. Be open. Stay that way. 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God involved in the details of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/prayer-is-a-moment-of-incarnation-god-with-us-god-involved-in-the/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“As we read the Bible, we see that God's role is not that of a scientist managing robots. Neither is God a frustrated artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gaston-barton/as-we-read-the-bible-we-see-that-god-s-role-is-not-that-of-a/) Sara Gaston Barton ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. 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