Evil Quote by William T. Vollmann
““Evil is one thing. Evil's only subjective. Illegal is another.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Evil and Illegality” (1995)
Evil is subjective, while legality is an objective societal construct; they are distinct concepts.
In simple terms: Evil is subjective; illegal is objective.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish moral evil from legal wrongdoing.
Themes
ethics
law
subjectivity
Mood
analytical
provocative
Type
philosophical
legal
When to use this quote
- court cases
- personal dilemmas
- social policy
Key Concepts
morality
jurisprudence
Questions to Reflect On
- Is something illegal always immoral?
- When does societal law reflect true evil?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex moral‑legal overlaps.
![“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)
