![They [Americans] want to believe that Good and Evil can be defined in precise categories, that Good is already, or will be easily achieved. ... if this optimism appears too superficial, they will try to create a kind of anti-God: the U.S.S.R. That is Evil, and it only needs to be annihilated to re-establish the reign of Good.](/assets/img/quote-photos/they-americans-want-to-believe-that-good-and-evil-can-be-defined-in-precise-cat.jpg)
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Forgiveness, that noblest of all self-denial, is a virtue which he alone who can practise in himself can willingly believe in another.
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In religion as in politics it so happens that we have less charity for those who believe half our creed, than for those who deny the whole of it.
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There's more of gravey than grave about you, whatever you are!" - Scrooge, referring to Marley's ghost which he believes is a hallucination from food poisoning Charles Dickens
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Nothing that we do, is done in vain. I believe, with all my soul, that we shall see triumph.
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It being a remarkable fact in theatrical history, but one long since established beyond dispute, that it is a hopeless endeavor to attract people to a theatre unless they can be first brought to believe that they will never get in.
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It is seldom that statesmen have the option of choosing between a good and an evil.
evil choices goods
Life often presents us with a choice of evils, rather than of goods.
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Human foresight often leaves its proudest possessor only a choice of evils.
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No propagation or multiplication is more rapid that that of evil, unless it be checked; no growth more certain.
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Accustom yourself to submit on all and every occasion, and on the most minute, no less than on the most important circumstances of life, to a small present evil, to obtain a greater distant good. This will give decision, tone, and energy to the mind, which, thus disciplined, will often reap victory from defeat and honor from repulse.
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It is a great evil, as well as a misfortune, to be unable to utter a prompt and decided 'no'. Charles Simmons
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We're living in a fearful time. Since 9/11 people have become more afraid than before, because of terrorism. There's a lot of confusion about evil, where it's all coming from. Charles Stanley
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Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.
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Excessive optimism sows the seeds of its own reversal. Alan Greenspan
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The courage to work with ourselves comes as basic trust in ourselves, as a sort of fundamental optimism. Chogyam Trungpa
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Construction is a matter of optimism; its a matter of facing the future with confidence. Cesar Pelli
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What distinguishes Americans from many people in the world is our kind of endemic optimism. Madeleine Albright
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Pessimism, when you get used to it, is just as agreeable as optimism. Arnold Bennett
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What I've really learned over time is that optimism is a very, very important part of leadership. Bob Iger