by Edmund Burke
what does this quote mean? do you agree?
2007-03-06 13:47:13 · 11 answers · asked by wherevertheanswerlies 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It means that sometimes...in certain situations...there's no such thing as "not being involved." Failure to take a stand against evil IS taking a stand, in a way. There are some things you simply CAN'T be neutral towards. If you're not actively AGAINST evil, then you support it by your inactivity.
There are some situations in which I agree with Burke completely. A large number of otherwise good and decent people in the South stood silently by and let many horrible things occur during the Civil Rights era. And look at how many otherwise good and decent Muslims are silent today in the face of outrageous terrorism.
2007-03-06 14:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because there's good and evil in all of us. So it's a bit simplistic really. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for God not to provide a way to save us from this evil world and make us good, through Jesus Christ.
2016-03-28 22:07:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suppose the government went after, say, the right to gays to have the rights of married heterosexuals, or the right for terrorism suspects to have the rights of others accused of a crime.
Well, if you or I decided that this doesn't affect us so why should we care? I would rather not get involved.
This is how evil triumphs. When we look the other way when a wrong occurs because it happens to somebody else, everybody loses. Eventually, a wrong will happen to us, and nobody will be there for us.
Voltaire said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." This is similar, in that good men will defend evils against others.
2007-03-06 14:05:04 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The quote means that if people who are good do not rise up to challenge people who are evil, that's all the evil people need to HAVE THEIR WAY. They will be unimpeded in their pursuit of whatever evil they want to commit.
This rather reminds me of people who think that all we need to fight crime and criminals is a police force. NO, people. We need to have an attitude, as a populace, that WE WILL NOT STAND FOR BEING VICTIMIZED BY CRIMINALS, and say it loud and clear -- and not just say it, but "walk the walk."
I certainly do agree with the quote. It's time for honest citizens, the would-be crime victims, to resolve that we will FIGHT when someone tries to victimize us. That means shoot the ************, rather than cower and call 911.
2007-03-06 21:23:42 · answer #4 · answered by peacefuljeffrey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me this quote means that by not acting against evil, people are actually supporting evil. Inaction can be just as significant as action is.
I agree with this statement, though far too often I will take the course of inaction.
2007-03-06 13:54:45 · answer #5 · answered by weevilone 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We have an obligation to speak out against evil and by extension:crime,prejudice etc,otherwise "evil" will triumph and will "win the day" therefore, we are obligated to speak out against evil.We cannot bury our heads in the sand and say that "it's not my responsibility".If we do, we abrogate our right to complain.
2007-03-06 17:45:40 · answer #6 · answered by ronald b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always said it to my kids as "bad things don't happen because bad people do bad things. Bad things happen because good people do nothing". I''ve told them to do 'righteousness for righteousness sake:" In other words "Do the right thing just because it's right. You may not be thanked or given reward or recognition and may even be abused for it...but you are obligated to do the right thing just because it is right" And my boys have grown up to be men who learned it well..and now teach it to thier children. This is how the world can be better....one person at a time...generation at a time.
2007-03-06 14:04:58 · answer #7 · answered by tlbrown42000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It means that evil wins if those of us who disagree with it, good men, allow it to happen. Imagine how the Holocaust could have been stopped if those who disagreed with Hitler in the beginning had refused to participate and/or refused to allow him to even run for Chancellor? Even the Pope didn't denounce it.
2007-03-06 13:54:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that evil will win if good people stand by and let it happen. It's a challenge to people who want the world to be a good place to step up and make it one.
Yes, I agree. If we just sit around and complain about things being "bad" and don't get up and do something about it, the world around us will remain bad.
2007-03-06 13:52:45 · answer #9 · answered by College Advisor 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes i agree. it means if good ppl dont fight against bad ppl and evil this world is going to the dumps.....
2007-03-06 13:56:04 · answer #10 · answered by Lexa♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋