The problem of evil… Why does God permit it? Or, if God is omnipotent, in which case permission and creation are the same, why did God create it?
—William Temple (1881–1944) English Theologian, Archbishop
There are no evil people; there are perfectly good people who are of the track, but they do not need condemnation or punishment; they only need to get upon the rails again.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
What wisdom can there be to choose, what continence to forbear without the knowledge of evil? He that can apprehend and consider vice with all her baits and seeming pleasures, and yet abstain, and yet distinguish, and yet prefer that which is truly better, he is the true wayfaring Christian.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
How in heck are they handling their surplus population in Hell these days? Maybe by the time you and I are in the queue there won’t be room for us.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Let guilty men remember, their black deeds
Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
Much less evil would be done on earth if evil could not be done in the name of good.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.
—A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Pastor, Author, Editor
Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.—As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into himself, so we gain the strength of the temptation we resist.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no limit to this fever for writing.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
The “evil imagination “takes advantage only of visible objects.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Must I do all the evil I can before I learn to shun it? Is it not enough to know the evil to shun it? If not, we should be sincere enough to admit that we love evil too well to give it up.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. If it were not for the laws of the land, we should soon see a massacre of the righteous. Jesus was watched by his enemies, who were thirsting for his blood: his disciples must not look for favour where their Master found hatred and death.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
I don’t believe in evil, I believe only in horror. In nature there is no evil, only an abundance of horror: the plagues and the blights and the ants and the maggots.
—Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) (1885–1962) Danish Novelist, Short-story Writer
We may draw good out of evil; we must not do evil, that good may come.
—Maria Weston Chapman (1806–85) American Abolitionist
Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other ones invariably slink in after it.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Speak of the Devil and he appears.
—Italian Proverb
On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
The urge to gamble is so universal and its practice so pleasurable that I assume it must be evil.
—Heywood Broun (1888–1939) American Journalist
No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
All histories do show, and wise politicians do hold it necessary that, for the well-governing of every Commonweal, it behoveth man to presuppose that all men are evil, and will declare themselves so to be when occasion is offered.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
Try to understand that there is more thoughtlessness than malice in the world. People are not out to offend you deliberately and maliciously. But all of us are thoughtless at times and do not readily realize that our words and actions are going to hurt people.
—Lawrence G. Lovasik (1913–86) American Missionary Priest, Prolific Catholic Author
The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together; our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherished by our virtues.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The devil tempts all men, but idle men tempt the devil.
—Arabic Proverb
There must always remain something that is antagonistic to good.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Evil is nourished and grows by concealment.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Of two evils, choose neither.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
No evil shall happen to the just.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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