Thought Provoking Quotes on Evil |Evil and The Nature of Evil Explored Through Evil Quotations.| The Nature of Man?

Evil is a compelling, confusing, and enigmatic subject to contemplate. Are people born evil? Is there such a thing as evil? Does evil exist outside of man? Does the devil exist? Why can evil be so seductive? Can a majority of us agree on a definition for evil? This hub looks at some thought provoking quotes on evil.

“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.”-Mahatma Gandhi

This is one of my favorite quotes about evil, even though the quote does not contain the actual word evil in it. I believe that iniquity does pay, and that people get away with evil deeds all the time with little or no consequences; however, it does seem that evil on a large scale or evil regimes do eventually fall. It is very comforting to believe that good eventually wins (even though most religions say good wins in the end).

To defeat them, first we must understand them. - Elie Wiesel

I believe that most FBI profilers, psychologists, psychiatrists and history teachers would agree with the above statement; however, Columbine has been studied to ad nauseam, and Columbine like tragedies keep happening over and over again.

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” - Buddha

I do not usually quote Buddha, I believe that I probably have a Christian bias, but there are few statements, that I have read, that contain more truth. I would go a little further than Buddha goes and say an evil parent can wound your soul.

No one, who like me, conjures up the most evil of those half tamed demons that inhabit the human breast, and seeks to wrestle with them ,can expect to come through the struggle unscathed-Sigmund Freud.

Suicide rates for doctors have been proven significantly higher than the norm (which would include psychiatrists). While, the research about the suicide rates of psychologist is a little nebulas at best. Many believe that the American Psychology Association tends to under report their suicide rates. What the APA does not deny is that the rates for depression in psychologist are high. I have a family member, and talked to other psychologist, that have had private practices for a while then quit, because the job is too depressing. In fact, the average career for a psychologist is about seven years (about as long as it takes to earn a PHD).

Why do so many psychologists burn out so quickly? Because psychologists wrestle with their own demons, while at the same time, wrestle with other people’s demons.

I know indeed what evil I intend to do, but stronger than all of after thoughts is my fury, fury that brings upon mortals the greatest evils. –Euripides

I have a temper and I have had to deal with it my whole life. When I get really angry, rarely does the consequences of my actions enter my mind; however, I do not usually cause trouble because something besides conscious thought stops me (my sub conscious?).

Now I know the full power of evil. It makes ugliness seem beautiful and goodness seem ugly and weak. - August Strindberg

This quote is interesting for two disparate reasons. First of all, most people would not consider evil to be beautiful. Secondly, August Strindberg was a prolific playwright and was considered the father of modern Swedish literature.

“Belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary, men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.”- Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad is my favorite existential writer, and I hardly ever disagree with him. In all honesty, I completely agree with his statement, but, as you can probably tell from the quote, Conrad was an atheist (and I am not). I believe that there is a God and there is a devil, and I believe that there is at least the possibility that the devil tempts people from time to time. I have read enough cases, not psychological cases, where a person does something so out of their character and so evil, that you wonder if the idea was whispered into their mind's ear.

“Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil and, if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty”-Aristotle quotes

I am human, more human or fallible than most, and I have felt like it is my right to get revenge; however, either rationality or cowardice wins out, and I do nothing.

In closing, I hope this journey into the heart of darkness has helped you to gain wisdom in some way and that you are not left rocking in the fetal position saying, “The horror, the horror.”