--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of two evils we must always choose the…" description: "\"Of two evils we must always choose the least.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/thomas-a-kempis-721_choose_of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-l_2363044.png" --- # Of two evils we must always choose the least. ![“Of two evils we must always choose the least.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/thomas-a-kempis-721_choose_of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-l_2363044.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/thomas-a-kempis-721_choose_of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-l_2363044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/thomas-a-kempis-721_choose_of-two-evils-we-must-always-choose-the-l_2363044.png) > “Of two evils we must always choose the least.” [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When faced with two bad options, pick the one that causes the least harm. **In simple terms:** Choose the lesser evil. Key Takeaway Select the option that minimizes damage. Themes ethics decision-making morality Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political dilemmas - personal relationships - business negotiations - legal choices Key Concepts consequentialism pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - Is the lesser evil always the right choice? - How do you assess which evil is lesser? A Different Perspective Choosing the lesser evil may still cause negative outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils/) [Evils Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-choose-1190951/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [Of two evils, I always choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/of-two-evils-i-always-choose-the-lesser/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [It is better to fall from the window than the roof; that is, of two evils, choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-fall-from-the-window-than-the-roof-that-is-of-two/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Of two evils choose the prettier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/of-two-evils-choose-the-prettier/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/to-prefer-evil-to-good-is-not-in-human-nature-and-when-a-man-is/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/between-two-evils-choose-neither-between-two-goods-choose-both/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [“Between two evils, I choose the one I’ve never tried before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinlein-robert-a/between-two-evils-i-choose-the-one-i-ve-never-tried-before/) [Heinlein Robert A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinlein-robert-a/) > [ Of evils one should choose the least. \[Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/of-evils-one-should-choose-the-least-lat-ex-malis-eligere-minima/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Of two evils, choose the more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/of-two-evils-choose-the-more-interesting/) [Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/) > [Of two evils choose the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/of-two-evils-choose-the-least/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Of two evils, choose neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/of-two-evils-choose-neither/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/of-two-evils-the-lesser-must-always-be-chosen-de-duobus-malis-minus/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Out of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/out-of-two-evils-the-less-is-always-to-be-chosen/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More by Thomas a Kempis > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. 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