"The bad man desires arbitrary power. What moves the evil man is the love of injustice"

John Rawls distinguishes two closely related but fundamentally different motivations underlying wrongful behavior. He suggests that a "bad man" seeks arbitrary power, control unbounded by moral law or principle. Such a person craves the ability to act without constraints, to shape outcomes at personal whim. The importance lies not in what ends are pursued but in the freedom to impose one's will, regardless of the cost to others. This lust for unchecked authority reflects a disregard for the equal standing and rights of others, as well as indifference to the demands of fairness. Arbitrary power, by definition, flouts established rules and ethical boundaries, placing the self before the community or shared norms.

By contrast, Rawls identifies a distinctly different animus animating the "evil man": a love of injustice itself. While the bad man is motivated by the desire to command and dominate, the evil man is driven by something deeper and more disturbing, a positive affection for the suffering, imbalance, and unfairness that injustice produces. For such a person, causing harm and upending justice are not merely byproducts of personal gain or ambitions for rule. Instead, they are objectives to be pursued for their own sake. This attitude marks a profound moral corruption, where the inversion of what is right becomes a source of satisfaction or even joy.

Rawls' remark draws attention to the spectrum of moral failings. The desire for arbitrary power is wrongful, certainly, but love of injustice is more radically opposed to the ethical fabric of a just society. One disdains limits; the other revels in their breach. Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for understanding the dynamics of moral harm and for building systems, both legal and ethical, that guard against the dangers of both unchecked selfishness and outright malevolence. Rawls thereby prompts us to reflect carefully on motivations, not just actions, in the structure of justice.