Chosen Quote by Thomas a Kempis
“Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, 1410
When faced with two bad options, pick the one that causes less harm.
In simple terms: Choose the lesser evil.
Key Takeaway
Select the less harmful choice.
Themes
ethics
decision making
morality
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal dilemmas
- medical choices
- environmental policy
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
consequentialism
pragmatism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the lesser evil truly acceptable?
- Can alternatives be created?
A Different Perspective
Choosing a lesser evil may still cause harm or compromise values.
![“[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world... Land, labor, and capital are extremely heterogeneous aggregates, not much better than earth, air, fire, and water.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_air_in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-ch_12383.jpg)
