--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best men are not consistent in good…" description: "\"The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the worst men be consistent in evil.\" — Wilkie Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png" --- # The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the… ![“The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the worst men be consistent in evil.” quote by Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png) > “The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the worst men be consistent in evil.” [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistency in moral behavior is not required for good actions, but evil should not be consistently practiced either. **In simple terms:** Good can be inconsistent; evil should not be. Key Takeaway Avoid habitual wrongdoing. Themes morality consistency ethics Mood critical analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal conduct - social norms - leadership Key Concepts literary commentary philosophical thought Questions to Reflect On - What drives consistency in evil? - Can inconsistency be a virtue? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-men-330588/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Consistent Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent-evil-5654319/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-consistent-3817654/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-men-453380/) ## Related quotes > [“The best men tell you the truth because they think you can take it; the worst men either try to preserve you in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-otto/the-best-men-tell-you-the-truth-because-they-think-you-can-take-it/) [Whitney Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-otto/) > [The worst men have the best jobs the best men have the worst jobs or are unemployed or locked in madhouses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-worst-men-have-the-best-jobs-the-best-men-have-the-worst-jobs-or/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-smith/inconsistency-is-the-only-thing-in-which-men-are-consistent/) [Horace Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-smith/) > [“On the small neutral ground of self-importance, the best men and the worst meet on the same terms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/on-the-small-neutral-ground-of-self-importance-the-best-men-and-the/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [The worst men often give the best advice. Our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-james-bailey/the-worst-men-often-give-the-best-advice-our-deeds-are-sometimes/) [Philip James Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-james-bailey/) > [“The worst of men generally have the words rogue and villain most in their mouths, as the lowest of all wretches are the aptest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-worst-of-men-generally-have-the-words-rogue-and-villain-most-in/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [There is nothing so revered yet so reviled as war; for even as it brings out the worst in men, it also brings out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-lowe/there-is-nothing-so-revered-yet-so-reviled-as-war-for-even-as-it/) [Neil Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-lowe/) > [The worst men often give the best advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-worst-men-often-give-the-best-advice/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [ Like the crow among mankind are the Zanj \[African Blacks\] for they are the worst of men and the most vicious of creatures in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jahiz/like-the-crow-among-mankind-are-the-zanj-african-blacks-for-they-are/) [Al-Jahiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jahiz/) > [“She said, A king is the best and worst of men. Of course. Of course. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-anthony-durham/she-said-a-king-is-the-best-and-worst-of-men-of-course-of-course/) [David Anthony Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-anthony-durham/) > [“Oh, you men of small pleasure and enterprise, oblivious to your purpose, fault-finding, avaricious and sinful, who cannot live without women and cannot enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/oh-you-men-of-small-pleasure-and-enterprise-oblivious-to-your-purpose/) [Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/) > [“Let not the worst of men be found worse than they really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lawson/let-not-the-worst-of-men-be-found-worse-than-they-really-are/) [George Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lawson/) > [“your best men are drunks and your worst men are locking them up, your best men are killers and your worst men are selling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/your-best-men-are-drunks-and-your-worst-men-are-locking-them-up-your/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“even the worst men wanted to be perceived as better than they were. How else could hypocrisy have risen to such delirious levels?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-leon/even-the-worst-men-wanted-to-be-perceived-as-better-than-they-were/) [Donna Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-leon/) > [We come to know best what men are, in their worse jeopardizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/we-come-to-know-best-what-men-are-in-their-worse-jeopardizes/) [Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/) ## More by Wilkie Collins > [“There is nothing serious in mortality! Solomon in all his glory was Solomon with the elements of the contemptible lurking in every fold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/there-is-nothing-serious-in-mortality-solomon-in-all-his-glory-was/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Let Lady Glyde's maid come in, Louis. Stop! Do her shoes creak?" I was obliged to ask the question. Creaking shoes invariably upset me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/let-lady-glyde-s-maid-come-in-louis-stop-do-her-shoes-creak-i-was/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Let the music speak to us of tonight, in a happier language than our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/let-the-music-speak-to-us-of-tonight-in-a-happier-language-than-our/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [The woman who first gives life, light, and form to our shadowy conceptions of beauty, fills a void in our spiritual nature that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-woman-who-first-gives-life-light-and-form-to-our-shadowy/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“The human heart is unsearchable. Who is to fathom it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-human-heart-is-unsearchable-who-is-to-fathom-it/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“I smell your cigar. Delicious! Give me one directly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-smell-your-cigar-delicious-give-me-one-directly/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“I dread the beginning of her new life more than words can tell, but I see some hope for her if she travels -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-dread-the-beginning-of-her-new-life-more-than-words-can-tell-but-i/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“It is quite possible that I may be altogether wrong in this idea. My own impression, however, is, that I am right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-quite-possible-that-i-may-be-altogether-wrong-in-this-idea-my/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. Nature's only idea seems to be to make them machines for the production of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-sadly-want-a-reform-in-the-construction-of-children-nature-s-only/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Habits of literary composition are perfectly familiar to me. One of the rarest of all the intellectual accomplishments that a man can possess is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/habits-of-literary-composition-are-perfectly-familiar-to-me-one-of/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“He has that quiet deference, that look of pleased, attentive interest, in listening to a woman, which, say what we may, we can none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/he-has-that-quiet-deference-that-look-of-pleased-attentive-interest/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“The dress of Virtue, in our parts, was cotton print. I had silk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-dress-of-virtue-in-our-parts-was-cotton-print-i-had-silk/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“It is not for you to say - you Englishmen, who have conquered your freedom so long ago, that you have conveniently forgotten what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-not-for-you-to-say-you-englishmen-who-have-conquered-your/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Tell him next, that crimes cause their own detection. There's another bit of copy-book morality for you, Fosco. Crimes cause their own detection. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/tell-him-next-that-crimes-cause-their-own-detection-there-s-another/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Shall I confess it, Mr. Hartright? I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. Nature's only idea seems to be to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/shall-i-confess-it-mr-hartright-i-sadly-want-a-reform-in-the/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) [Explore all 183 Wilkie Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) ## More Consistent quotes > [The most important thing is consistent football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-hudson-odoi/the-most-important-thing-is-consistent-football/) [Callum Hudson-Odoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-hudson-odoi/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [If I do the same thing consistently, no matter how I feel, I'm probably going to produce a consistent result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/if-i-do-the-same-thing-consistently-no-matter-how-i-feel-i-m-probably/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [Staying consistent is even more important in three-out-of-five-set matches, to be able to wear on guys over that long of a match, if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/staying-consistent-is-even-more-important-in-three-out-of-five-set/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [If all areas of my game are pretty consistent, that's all I hope for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/if-all-areas-of-my-game-are-pretty-consistent-that-s-all-i-hope-for/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [The one thing that seems to be consistent through all my work that I like, and I experimented a lot, is the viewer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/the-one-thing-that-seems-to-be-consistent-through-all-my-work-that-i/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“You don’t have to be strong, or fast, or impressive. Just consistent. The rest will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-allen-dunn/you-don-t-have-to-be-strong-or-fast-or-impressive-just-consistent-the/) [Randall Allen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-allen-dunn/) > [Didn't think her vision was consistent with the ORC, especially the way the Council wishes to work with the ORC. For example, with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/didn-t-think-her-vision-was-consistent-with-the-orc-especially-the/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [I wanted to be consistent with my exercise, so I committed to working out for 30 days in a row, no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-wanted-to-be-consistent-with-my-exercise-so-i-committed-to-working/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) [Browse all 1,410 Consistent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the worst men be consistent in evil.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilkie Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good-why-should-the-worst-men-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consistent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good-why-should-the-worst-men-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/wilkie-collins-2078_consistent_the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good_2339163.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best men are not consistent in good-- why should the worst men be consistent in evil.” — Wilkie Collins", "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": "Wilkie Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best men are not consistent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good-why-should-the-worst-men-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-best-men-are-not-consistent-in-good-why-should-the-worst-men-be/#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 } } ] } ```