“Evil is easy, and has infinite forms.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“Evil is easy, and has infinite forms.”
Explanation
Pascal acknowledges the unsettling truth that evil is far more accessible and varied than good. It often takes little effort to act selfishly, destructively, or unjustly, because evil appeals to our base instincts—pride, greed, lust, fear—and is limited by no moral structure. Unlike goodness, which requires discipline, clarity, and inner effort, evil presents itself in countless disguises and can adapt to any context.
This insight reflects Pascal’s view in Pensées of the fallen human condition, where man is capable of great reason and virtue, yet constantly drawn toward corruption and error. Goodness has form, coherence, and unity—it is consistent with truth and divine order. But evil, by contrast, is chaotic and shapeless, capable of presenting itself as pleasure, power, indifference, or even false virtue. Its very formlessness makes it more insidious.
In today’s world—where moral ambiguity, temptation, and distraction are everywhere—Pascal’s observation is strikingly relevant. Evil does not always appear as obvious wrong; it often hides in convenience, conformity, or justification. His quote is a warning that true goodness must be consciously chosen and cultivated, while evil creeps in passively, through neglect or surrender. To live well, we must recognize how easy evil is—and how much vigilance true virtue demands.
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