--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For men use, if they have an evil turn…" description: "\"For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good turn we write it in dust.\" — Thomas More" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/thomas-more-3382_dust_for-men-use-if-they-have-an-evil-turn-to_642232.jpg" --- # For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in… ![“For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good turn we write it in dust.” quote by Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/thomas-more-3382_dust_for-men-use-if-they-have-an-evil-turn-to_642232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/thomas-more-3382_dust_for-men-use-if-they-have-an-evil-turn-to_642232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/thomas-more-3382_dust_for-men-use-if-they-have-an-evil-turn-to_642232.jpg) > “For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good turn we write it in dust.” [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good deeds are fleeting, bad deeds endure in memory; society honors the negative over the positive. **In simple terms:** Bad deeds are remembered longer than good ones. Key Takeaway Recognize and reward good actions promptly. Themes memory recognition morality Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public honors - personal relationships - historical narratives Key Concepts legacy social values reputation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure good actions are celebrated? - What systems reinforce remembering negativity? A Different Perspective Neglecting positive deeds can demoralize virtuous behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-turn-486449/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Marble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marble/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Turn Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-write-1255154/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Write Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-dust-4601791/) [Write Marble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-marble-5153737/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We write dust epitaphs for our vanquished enemies and watch them blow away in the desert wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/we-write-dust-epitaphs-for-our-vanquished-enemies-and-watch-them-blow/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [One of the things I wanted to do with 'The Turn' was write a production of songs that could be stripped down to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/one-of-the-things-i-wanted-to-do-with-the-turn-was-write-a-production/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When a man has done me an evil turn once, I don't like to give him the opportunity to do so twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-macdonald/when-a-man-has-done-me-an-evil-turn-once-i-don-t-like-to-give-him-the/) [John A. Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-macdonald/) > [“The simple fact is that evil preys on good, and today, good had a bad day. Which brings with it an acceptance of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-mcfadyen/the-simple-fact-is-that-evil-preys-on-good-and-today-good-had-a-bad/) [Cody McFadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-mcfadyen/) > [So the people will pay the penalty for their kings' presumption, who, by devising evil, turn justice from her path with tortuous speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/so-the-people-will-pay-the-penalty-for-their-kings-presumption-who-by/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Of course you'll encounter trouble. 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