The phrase “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” is a quote often attributed to Irish statesman Edmund Burke. While there is some debate about whether Burke actually said or wrote these exact words, the sentiment expressed is an important one – it suggests that when good people fail to act in response to evil, that inaction allows evil to prevail.
In other words, the mere absence of opposition from those who are morally upright is enough to allow evil forces to win the day. When good men and women fail to stand up against injustice, oppression, or malevolent actions, they enable evil to grow in power and scope. Evil flourishes when the righteous remain silent and fail to take action to counter it.
There are many examples throughout history that demonstrate this principle in action. During World War II, as Nazi Germany began persecuting the Jewish population with increasing brutality, many good Germans did nothing to intervene or assist their Jewish neighbours, allowing the atrocities to escalate into the genocide of the Holocaust. The world’s inaction in the face of this evil enabled untold suffering.
Likewise, the human rights abuses in Rwanda in 1994 went largely unchecked by the international community, allowing the atrocities of the genocide to unfold. The lack of a decisive response from the “good men” of the world – that is, the political and military leaders who could have acted – was a key factor in the catastrophic outcome.
In more recent times, the genocide of the Yazidi people at the hands of ISIS in Iraq could be seen as a product of global inaction in the face of that group’s rise to power. The early stages of ISIS’s terrorist campaign were met with relative silence and shuffling by leaders and governments. Their evil ambitions were enabled by the lack of decisive action from those who could have opposed them from the very beginning.
Of course, it’s not just a matter of international and global affairs. The principle applies closer to home as well. When good people remain silent and inactive in the presence of evil in their own communities, that evil thrives. Witnessing bullying or harassment and doing nothing to intervene, for instance, can embolden the perpetrators. Failing to speak out against racism or discrimination sends a message that bigots are free to spew their hateful rhetoric. Remaining apathetic to child abuse denies victims the protection they deserve. (This is why Elon Musk’s decision to highlight the systemic abuse of children in Rotherham, Britain, is so important, because the British government has, so far, failed to hold an adequate public enquiry, which holds those in power who fostered a climate that allowed these crimes to go unchecked, to be held to account.)
Doing nothing in the face of evil can feel safer, simpler, and easier than confronting it head-on. It takes courage and conviction to stand against wrongdoing, especially when evil is institutionalised or enjoys political power. But remaining neutral in the battle between good and evil effectively means siding with the latter. When we turn a blind eye to injustice, we take on a part of the responsibility for its consequences.
This idea is not saying that everyone is a hero or has the power to overcome evil single-handed. Rather, it suggests that we each have a role to play, from the small daily actions of speaking up and standing against cruelty, to using our voices to influence for good, to supporting others who are fighting the good fight. As Edmund Burke also said, “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”
The takeaway is that passivity in the presence of evil is not truly neutral – it is abetting. Evil prevails when it is met with inertia from those who know better. It is our duty to resist evil in all its forms, whether we are elected leaders, community members, or simply individuals. Standing up to injustice is never easy, but it is what good people must do. The alternative is to let the forces of darkness gain and expand their reach.
As Burke (or whoever coined that phrase) accurately stated, all it takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing. Remaining inert in the presence of evil is not a viable option if we wish to keep the world just. We must all be vigilant and proactive in defending the principles of goodness, for the triumph of evil is exactly what we get when we do nothing.
Worldwide Temple of Aurora 