A necessary evil
Meaning
An undesirable thing that must be accepted or done for the sake of a greater good or to prevent a worse outcome.
Origin
The concept of a 'necessary evil' dates back to ancient Rome, where the orator and philosopher Cicero famously used the Latin phrase 'necessarium malum' in his work De Officiis. He applied this rather controversially to women, seeing them as essential for the continuation of humanity but also as a source of societal complications—a view that reflected the patriarchal attitudes of his time. While that specific application has long faded, the potent idea of accepting an undesirable element for a greater purpose resonated through the centuries. It was later adopted and popularized in English by the 18th century, particularly in political and moral debates, solidifying its place as a powerful idiom for difficult, unavoidable choices that ultimately serve a higher good.
Examples
- Paying taxes is often considered a necessary evil to fund public services and infrastructure.
- Working overtime was a necessary evil to meet the project deadline and avoid penalties for the company.