The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Decisions should be based on whether the good outweighs the evil, as few things are purely one or the other.
- In plain terms
- Choose things where good outweighs evil, not just if there is any evil.
- What can you take from it?
- Weigh pros and cons carefully.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you weigh competing values?
- When is a small evil acceptable?
Another view
Quantifying good and evil is often subjective.
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