--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All it takes for evil to flourish is for…" description: "\"“All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing”\" — Unknown Author 47" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg" --- # All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do… ![“All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing” quote by Unknown Author 47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg) > ““All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing”” [Unknown Author 47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inaction by good people allows evil to grow unchecked **In simple terms:** Doing nothing enables evil Key Takeaway Act against injustice when you can Themes ethics activism social justice Mood urgent motivational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political protest - community organizing - daily decisions Key Concepts moral responsibility civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What small actions can you take today? - When is it safe to intervene? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout or personal danger when confronting evil ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Flourish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-flourish-1140703/) [Flourish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourish/) [Flourish Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourish-good-2791488/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Takes Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-evil-602279/) ## Related quotes > [In our time all it takes for evil to flourish is for a few good men to be a little wrong and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/in-our-time-all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-a-few-good-men/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“it takes evil for good to be recognized. evil is a necessity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-ofosu-ennin/it-takes-evil-for-good-to-be-recognized-evil-is-a-necessity/) [Kofi Ofosu-Ennin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-ofosu-ennin/) > [“The good suffer, the evil flourish, and all that is mortal passes away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-good-suffer-the-evil-flourish-and-all-that-is-mortal-passes-away/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He wasn't evil, though I wondered if weakness wasn't just as dangerous. The weak allowed evil to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/he-wasn-t-evil-though-i-wondered-if-weakness-wasn-t-just-as-dangerous/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/for-evil-to-flourish-it-only-requires-good-men-to-do-nothing/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“While freedom gives rise to growth and enlightenment, permission allows evil to flourish in a light of day that would otherwise destroy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-freedom-gives-rise-to-growth-and-enlightenment-permission/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/with-or-without-religion-you-would-have-good-people-doing-good-things/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“I am not afraid of people who say all the wrong things that make others gasp in disbelief. I am afraid of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-am-not-afraid-of-people-who-say-all-the-wrong-things-that-make/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [With vision we flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/with-vision-we-flourish/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [“Talent is like a little seed; when nurtured, it will flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/talent-is-like-a-little-seed-when-nurtured-it-will-flourish/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Dear Superwoman, Seasons are there for a reason. You may not flourish now, but when it is your season, your cup will overflow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-seasons-are-there-for-a-reason-you-may-not-flourish/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“The seed we bury in soil, Flourish, even after we die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/the-seed-we-bury-in-soil-flourish-even-after-we-die/) [Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/) > [I'm definitely someone that is always on the go, and that's what I really flourish in and that will probably never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/i-m-definitely-someone-that-is-always-on-the-go-and-that-s-what-i/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) ## More by Unknown Author 47 > [“Live each day as if it were the first day of marriage and the last day of vacation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/live-each-day-as-if-it-were-the-first-day-of-marriage-and-the-last/) [Unknown Author 47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/) > [“The word sorry doesn't mean the guilt is there and saying I forgive you doesn't mean the hurt has gone away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/the-word-sorry-doesn-t-mean-the-guilt-is-there-and-saying-i-forgive/) [Unknown Author 47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/) > [“It is never so bad that it cannot be worse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/it-is-never-so-bad-that-it-cannot-be-worse/) [Unknown Author 47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/) [Explore all 4 Unknown Author 47 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Unknown Author 47" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-good-people-to-do-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-good-people-to-do-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/unknown-author-47-67143_good-people_all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for_1899217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing” — Unknown Author 47", "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": "Unknown Author 47", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-author-47/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“All it takes for evil to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-good-people-to-do-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-author-47/all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-good-people-to-do-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```