It’s true that someone will always say that good and evil don’t exist: that is a person who has never had any dealings with real evil. Good is far less convincing than evil, but it’s because their chemical structures are different. Like gold, good is never found in a pure state in nature: it therefore doesn’t seem impressive. It has the unfortunate tendency not to act; it prefers, passively, to be seen.
Interpretation
Good and evil are often perceived differently, with evil appearing more tangible than good.
This quote suggests that the concepts of good and evil are not absolute but are shaped by human experience and perception. Evil stands out more clearly because it often manifests in a direct and impactful way, making it more memorable and convincing than the subtle, less obvious nature of good, which tends to be quieter and less dramatic, reflecting the complexity of human morality.
In practice
In a philosophy class discussing ethics, this quote could be used to illustrate the complexities of moral judgment.
I always wanted to write a book about a common food that becomes a commercial commodity and therefore becomes economically important and therefore becomes politically important and culturally important. That whole process is very interesting to me. And salt seemed to me the best example of that, partly because it's universal.
But I’ve been turning over in my mind the question of nostalgia, and whether I suffer from it. I certainly don’t get soggy at the memory of some childhood knickknack; nor do I want to deceive myself sentimentally about something that wasn’t even true at the time—love of the old school, and so on. But if nostalgia means the powerful recollection of strong emotions—and a regret that such feelings are no longer present in our lives—then I plead guilty.
Is not anyone with any degree of mental honesty conscious of telling lies all day long, both in talking and writing, simply because lies will fall into artistic shape when truth will not?
Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow for ever and for ever.
There never can have been, and never can be, and there never shall be any sin without pride.
Institutions mistake good intentions for objectives. They say "health care"; that's an intention, not an objective.
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