Greater Evil Quotes
Weighing hardship, disorder, and moral tradeoffs
These quotes weigh one hardship against another, questioning whether joblessness, disorder, or internal conflict deserves to be called the worse outcome. It's a theme that keeps returning across politics and philosophy. For a look at a different decade's mood, see our 1920s quotes.
Larger deficits are necessary and proper means to mitigate unemployment as the far greater evil in terms of human welfare.
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Civil strife is as much a greater evil than a concerted war effort as war itself is worse than peace.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What question do these greater evil quotes explore?
They weigh different hardships, like unemployment, disorder, or internal conflict, against one another to ask which is truly worse.
Do the quotes reach a single conclusion?
No, they offer different viewpoints rather than agreeing on one definitive answer to the underlying moral question.
Is this collection focused on economics or politics?
It touches both, since the comparisons made often involve economic hardship alongside political and social disorder.
Why is anarchy specifically mentioned in one quote?
It's used as an extreme example of disorder, framed as worse than most other outcomes a society might otherwise face.
Where can I read quotes reflecting a different historical mood?
Our 1920s quotes capture the tone of an earlier decade.
A thoughtful set of lines on how societies decide which risk is worth accepting.
