Evil Quote by Vasily Grossman
““At the same time there was the good of the poor and the good of the rich. And the good of the whites, the blacks and the yellow races... More and more goods came into being, corresponding to each sect, race and class... People began to realise how much blood had been spilt in the name of a petty, doubtful good, in the name of the struggle of this petty good against what is belied to be evil. Sometimes the very concept of good became a scourge, a greater evil than evil itself.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, 1960
The notion of “good” can become twisted, turning into a harmful ideology that fuels conflict and outweighs its original purpose.
In simple terms: When “good” becomes a rigid label, it can cause more harm than good.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral labels you accept.
Themes
morality
ideology
conflict
human nature
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
literary
When to use this quote
- political debates
- social movements
- interpersonal ethics
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
group identity
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What “good” do I accept without questioning?
- How might redefining “good” reduce conflict?
A Different Perspective
Good can be a tool for oppression if unexamined.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
