Evil Quote by William Penn
“A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Essays on the Law of Nature and Nations, William Penn, 1701
Good cannot be achieved by sanctifying evil; evil must not be used as a means to good.
In simple terms: Good cannot be built on evil.
Key Takeaway
Reject evil as a tool.
Themes
morality
ethics
means to ends
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- activism
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
philosophy
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it tempting to use bad means for good?
- How to stay ethical under pressure?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes evil appears beneficial in the short term.
![“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)
