--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know there’s evil in the world, and…" description: "\"I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has been. But you don’t need to believe in Satan or demons to explain it. Human beings are perfectly..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png" --- # I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has… ![“I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has been. But you don’t need to believe in Satan or demons to explain it. Human beings are perfectly capable of evil all by themselves.” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png) > “I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has been. But you don’t need to believe in Satan or demons to explain it. Human beings are perfectly capable of evil all by themselves.” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil stems from human nature, not supernatural forces; people can commit harm without external demons. **In simple terms:** Evil is human, not demonic. Key Takeaway Recognize human capacity for harm and work to mitigate it. Themes evil human nature morality psychology responsibility Mood serious reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - crime prevention - education - therapy - leadership - policy making Key Concepts philosophy ethics behavioral science Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to commit evil acts? - How can societies prevent human‑originated harm? A Different Perspective Ignoring systemic factors can oversimplify the problem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-world/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“As far as evil goes”—she shrugged one shoulder—“I’ve spent a dozen years studying the subject and there’s one thing I know for sure.” Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-webb/as-far-as-evil-goes-she-shrugged-one-shoulder-i-ve-spent-a-dozen/) [Debra Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-webb/) > [“Humans were always more capable of evil than you could imagine. And they were also capable of more wonderment than you could ever fathom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/humans-were-always-more-capable-of-evil-than-you-could-imagine-and/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [In my head, men and women are equally capable of evil. So are all communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/in-my-head-men-and-women-are-equally-capable-of-evil-so-are-all/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [“It has always been easier to believe himself capable of evil than to accept evil in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/it-has-always-been-easier-to-believe-himself-capable-of-evil-than-to/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [You want to kill me, don't you? And here I thought you and your friends were so righteous. You are just as capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-want-to-kill-me-don-t-you-and-here-i-thought-you-and-your-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And don’t try to sell me any crap about the kindly demon. I know three of you now, and you are all evil, insane,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/and-don-t-try-to-sell-me-any-crap-about-the-kindly-demon-i-know-three/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [“flinched away from the cross before remembering it wouldn’t hurt her. Not if she refused to let it. She was alive. She was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laken-cane/flinched-away-from-the-cross-before-remembering-it-wouldn-t-hurt-her/) [Laken Cane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laken-cane/) > [“Some Christians go to great trouble studying Satan's ways so they can identify his deceptions, but I don't do that. I'm determined not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-t-blackaby/some-christians-go-to-great-trouble-studying-satan-s-ways-so-they-can/) [Henry T. Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/) > [Sometimes, an inability to believe in Satan reflects a larger inability to believe in a spiritual plane at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/sometimes-an-inability-to-believe-in-satan-reflects-a-larger/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [To some degree Satanism is purely a kind of disease of Christianity. You've got to really be Christian to believe in Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/to-some-degree-satanism-is-purely-a-kind-of-disease-of-christianity/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Unreason is now ascendant in the United States - in our schools, in our courts, and in each branch of the federal government. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/unreason-is-now-ascendant-in-the-united-states-in-our-schools-in-our/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I was not content to just believe in Satan. I wanted to be his chief or staff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/i-was-not-content-to-just-believe-in-satan-i-wanted-to-be-his-chief/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“in terror. I believe that Satan cannot bear to hear the sound of God’s people laughing. Godly joy is one of our greatest weapons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surprise-sithole/in-terror-i-believe-that-satan-cannot-bear-to-hear-the-sound-of-god-s/) Surprise Sithole > [There are two great forces, God's force of good and the devil's force of evil, and I believe Satan is alive and he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/there-are-two-great-forces-god-s-force-of-good-and-the-devil-s-force/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I believe Satan exists for two reasons: first, the Bible says so, and second, I've done business with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-believe-satan-exists-for-two-reasons-first-the-bible-says-so-and/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The best heroes in the world are the reluctant ones. Courage isn't fearlessness - it's acting in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-best-heroes-in-the-world-are-the-reluctant-ones-courage-isn-t/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“If you don't love him, if you don't even care about him, then seeing him now shouldn't be all that painful. Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. It's hard on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/when-you-re-a-fifty-year-old-woman-no-one-really-bothers-to-look-at/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Mom and I often talked about the trip we'd someday take together to the 'city of eternal spring' where she was born. In Kunming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/mom-and-i-often-talked-about-the-trip-we-d-someday-take-together-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“But human anatomy and human endurance are variable. While the much younger nun had succumbed to her injuries, Ursula's heart kept beating, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/but-human-anatomy-and-human-endurance-are-variable-while-the-much/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Where we go depends on what we know, and what we know depends on where we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/where-we-go-depends-on-what-we-know-and-what-we-know-depends-on-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Some people make choices hoping for the best; Korsak had made a choice simply to avoid the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/some-people-make-choices-hoping-for-the-best-korsak-had-made-a-choice/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) [Explore all 134 Tess Gerritsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has been. But you don’t need to believe in Satan or demons to explain it. Human beings are perfectly capable of evil all by themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tess Gerritsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-there-always-has-been-but-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-there-always-has-been-but-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/tess-gerritsen-3102_believe_i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-the_2001891.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know there’s evil in the world, and there always has been. But you don’t need to believe in Satan or…” — Tess Gerritsen", "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": "Tess Gerritsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know there’s evil in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-there-always-has-been-but-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-know-there-s-evil-in-the-world-and-there-always-has-been-but-you/#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 } } ] } ```