Quotes about evil

322 quotes · 165 authors

Quotes

  1. I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of "Admin." The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern.

  2. One of the darkest evils of our world is surely the unteachable wildness of the Good.

  3. "The man's become inhuman, I tell you," said Kemp. "I am as sure he will establish a reign of terror—so soon as he has got over the emotions of this escape—as I am sure I am talking to you. Our only chance is to be ahead. He has cut himself off from his kind. His blood be upon his own head."

  4. Pandemonium, city and proud seat

    Of Lucifer.

  5. Satan; so call him now, his former name

    Is heard no more in heaven.

  6. In heavenly spirits could such perverseness dwell?

  7. So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,

    The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.

  8. Abashed the Devil stood,

    And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

    Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined

    His loss.

  9. Neither man nor angel can discern

    Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks

    Invisible

  10. So farewel Hope, and with Hope farewel Fear,

    Farewel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;

    Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least

    Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold

    By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;

    As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.

  11. Satan, now first inflam’d with rage, came down,

    The Tempter ere th’ Accuser of man-kind,

    To wreck on innocent frail man his loss

    Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:

    Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,

    Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,

    Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth

    Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest,

    And like a devillish Engine back recoiles

    Upon himself; horror and doubt distract

    His troubl’d thoughts, and from the bottom stirr

    The Hell within him, for within him Hell

    He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

    One step no more then from himself can fly

    By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair

    That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie

    Of what he was, what is, and what must be

    Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.

  12. And out of good still to find means of evil.