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About this quote

What does it mean?
Evil has not decreased over the past two thousand years.
In plain terms
Evil hasn't lessened in twenty centuries.
What can you take from it?
Human wickedness persists despite historical progress.

Where it applies

  • examining moral progress
  • studying historical atrocities

Putting it to work

  • question assumptions of moral improvement
  • investigate sources of evil

Questions to consider

  • Why do we think humanity is improving?
  • What measures truly reduce evil?

Another view

It offers no nuance about reductions in specific forms of evil.

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