"Evil, by definition, is that which endangers the good, and the good is what we perceive as a value"
- Konrad Lorenz
About this Quote
Konrad Lorenz's quote recommends that evil is relative to what is perceived as great. Simply put, what is thought about evil is figured out by what is seen as valuable. This suggests that what is viewed as great or valuable is subjective and can vary from individual to person. For example, someone might value cash and material ownerships, while another might value relationships and experiences. For that reason, what a single person might consider evil, another might not. This quote also recommends that evil is something that threatens the great, or what is seen as important. This might mean that evil is something that threatens the worths of an individual or society, such as violence, theft, or destruction. Eventually, Konrad Lorenz's quote suggests that evil is relative to what is viewed as great or valuable, which it is something that threatens those values.