--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people whose souls have just…" description: "\"There are people whose souls have just withered, people who are willing to go along with anything evil - anything so as not to be suspected of disagree..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg" --- # There are people whose souls have just withered, people… ![“There are people whose souls have just withered, people who are willing to go along with anything evil - anything so as not to be suspected of disagreeing with whoever is in power.” quote by Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg) > “There are people whose souls have just withered, people who are willing to go along with anything evil - anything so as not to be suspected of disagreeing with whoever is in power.” [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may betray their conscience and align with evil to avoid suspicion or conflict with authority. **In simple terms:** People compromise morals to stay safe. Key Takeaway Question your values over conformity. Themes conformity morality power fear integrity Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - workplace politics - political regimes - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical compromise social pressure authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - What values are you willing to sacrifice? - How does fear shape your choices? A Different Perspective Compromise can erode self-respect and societal trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever the reason, too many are no longer willing to call evil by its name. There is no vision. And when there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/whatever-the-reason-too-many-are-no-longer-willing-to-call-evil-by/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“Epicurus's old questions are still unanswered: Is he (God) willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/epicurus-s-old-questions-are-still-unanswered-is-he-god-willing-to/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Bob, would you be willing to take on Evil Bob?" Bob's eyes darted nervously. "I'd . . . prefer not to. I'd really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/bob-would-you-be-willing-to-take-on-evil-bob-bob-s-eyes-darted/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-scarce-because-few-people-are-willing-to-go-through-the/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I am very clear with people that I am willing and able to make tough choices, and I will do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-am-very-clear-with-people-that-i-am-willing-and-able-to-make-tough/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [I think most people are not willing to make the tough choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scott/i-think-most-people-are-not-willing-to-make-the-tough-choices/) [Rick Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scott/) > [You have to be committed to the people and willing to do what is in their best interest even when it isn't in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-crumpton/you-have-to-be-committed-to-the-people-and-willing-to-do-what-is-in/) [Ron Crumpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-crumpton/) > [Many people are willing to be God-centered as long as they feel that God is man-centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/many-people-are-willing-to-be-god-centered-as-long-as-they-feel-that/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [We must all move shoulder to shoulder in a unified front to show this administration that the true majority of people are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/we-must-all-move-shoulder-to-shoulder-in-a-unified-front-to-show-this/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [People are more willing to say things when they don't know they're being recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/people-are-more-willing-to-say-things-when-they-don-t-know-they-re/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“Desperation breeds people who are willing to do anything to get what they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/desperation-breeds-people-who-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [We need to and must protect privacy. But I think that people will be willing and even eager to share medical information about themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/we-need-to-and-must-protect-privacy-but-i-think-that-people-will-be/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It amazes me how people are often more willing to act based on little or no data than to use data that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-amazes-me-how-people-are-often-more-willing-to-act-based-on-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm so thankful that there are people willing to do that - to actually carry a child nine months for someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glozell/i-m-so-thankful-that-there-are-people-willing-to-do-that-to-actually/) GloZell ## More by Vasily Grossman > [“When a person dies, they cross over from the realm of freedom to the realm of slavery. Life is freedom, and dying is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/when-a-person-dies-they-cross-over-from-the-realm-of-freedom-to-the/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Life was terrible. It was as though they could understand, as though they could read in one another’s eyes, that the power which had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/life-was-terrible-it-was-as-though-they-could-understand-as-though/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“She's got legs like a stork, no arse worth speaking of, and great cow-like eyes. call that a woman?' 'You just like big tits',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/she-s-got-legs-like-a-stork-no-arse-worth-speaking-of-and-great-cow/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“The true champions of a nation's freedom are those who reject the limitations of stereotypes and affirm the rich diversity of human nature to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/the-true-champions-of-a-nation-s-freedom-are-those-who-reject-the/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [I don't want you to be young and beautiful. I only want one thing. I want you to be kind-hearted - and not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/i-don-t-want-you-to-be-young-and-beautiful-i-only-want-one-thing-i/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“My faith has been tempered in Hell. My faith has emerged from the flames of the crematoria, from the concrete of the gas chamber.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/my-faith-has-been-tempered-in-hell-my-faith-has-emerged-from-the/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Another fact that allowed Fascism to gain power over men was their blindness. A man cannot believe that he is about to be destroyed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/another-fact-that-allowed-fascism-to-gain-power-over-men-was-their/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [Chekhov said: let's put God - and all these grand progressive ideas - to one side. Let's begin with man; let's be kind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/chekhov-said-let-s-put-god-and-all-these-grand-progressive-ideas-to/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Before the war Sofya Levinton had once said to Yevgenia Nikolaevna Shaposhnikova, 'If one man is fated to be killed by another, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/before-the-war-sofya-levinton-had-once-said-to-yevgenia-nikolaevna/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Freedom is the direct opposite of necessity; freedom is necessity overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/freedom-is-the-direct-opposite-of-necessity-freedom-is-necessity/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [There's nothing more difficult than saying goodbye to a house where you've suffered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/there-s-nothing-more-difficult-than-saying-goodbye-to-a-house-where/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“The travelers emerged into a spacious square. In the middle of this square were several dozen people on a wooden bandstand like in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/the-travelers-emerged-into-a-spacious-square-in-the-middle-of-this/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Among a million Russian huts you will never find even two that are exactly the same. Everything that lives is unique. It is unimaginable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/among-a-million-russian-huts-you-will-never-find-even-two-that-are/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Don't you remember how you once answered a question of mine? Me - I shall never forget your words. Those words of yours opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/don-t-you-remember-how-you-once-answered-a-question-of-mine-me-i/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Perhaps you’ve read Tolstoy’s Hadji Mourat? Perhaps you’ve read The Cossacks? Perhaps you’ve read the story “A Prisoner in the Caucasus”? They were written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/perhaps-you-ve-read-tolstoy-s-hadji-mourat-perhaps-you-ve-read-the/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) [Explore all 101 Vasily Grossman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) ## 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 > [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": "There are people whose souls have just withered, people who are willing to go along with anything evil - anything so as not to be suspected of disagreeing with whoever is in power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vasily Grossman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-withered-people-who-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-withered-people-who-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/vasily-grossman-4608_evil_there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-w_2041874.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are people whose souls have just withered, people who are willing to go along with anything evil…” — Vasily Grossman", "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": "Vasily Grossman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are people whose souls have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-withered-people-who-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/there-are-people-whose-souls-have-just-withered-people-who-are/#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 } } ] } ```