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All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing as they must if they believe they can do nothing. There is nothing worse because the council of despair is declaration of irresponsibility; it is Pilate washing his hands.
Edmund Burke
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of action against evil and the consequences of inaction by good individuals.

Edmund Burke's quote highlights that in order for evil to triumph, it requires the passive complicity of those who have the ability to resist or confront it. It serves as a powerful reminder that doing nothing in the face of injustice is itself a form of irresponsibility, akin to abdicating one’s moral duty, and underscores the necessity of taking action to combat wrongdoing rather than succumbing to despair.

Themes

EvilActionResponsibilityGoodDespair

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a speech about social justice to inspire activism.

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