Quote of the day by Thomas Mann: ‘Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.’ Life lessons on limits of tolerance and importance of standing up for what's right from German literary icon

Tolerance is indeed a celebrated virtue, one that should be taught to young minds and practised by all. Being tolerant of those who are different from us – such as being a different race or having another religion or lifestyle – is an admirable trait, as no one should be persecuted for their gender, ethnicity or things they cannot change about themselves. However, tolerance for people who don’t fit the status quo is not the same thing as tolerating toxic attitudes and problematic opinions held by other people. Being tolerant is precious as it helps us to understand and acknowledge the humanity of others, especially who appear to be unconventional. It is not an excuse to support harmful attitudes and behaviour in others. Years ago, writer Thomas Mann had warned people that tolerance should have its limits and excessive tolerance is not without its perils.

Quote Of The Day By Thomas Mann Says Too Much Of Anything Is Not Good, Even Tolerance

He once wrote: “Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.”

Deeper Meaning Of The Quote

Mann’s quote says that tolerance, while a virtue, cannot be an excuse for people to commit acts of cruelty or hold bigoted views. Tolerance is encouraged as it helps people from various walks of life exist in harmony and assures people that being ‘different’ doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated with dignity. However, it stops being a virtue when it is extended to harmful and destructive behaviour. Silence in the face of evil can make victims feel abandoned and allow destructive activity to remain unchallenged. As a result, the remark makes a crucial distinction between tolerating people's differences and tolerating cruel behaviour. It should never be necessary to give up moral judgement in order to be compassionate. There are times when speaking up, establishing limits, and opposing injustice become essential duties.


True tolerance is not about permitting everything – it includes recognising humanity in others and treating everybody with dignity and compassion and also opposing actions that violate human dignity and rights.

Relevance Of The Quote

The quote is relevant today as societies are becoming more diverse, and people are being expected to tolerate people who are different and to respect and acknowledge cultural differences. However, tolerance for a lifestyle different than your own doesn't mean being aiding and abetting harmful attitudes in others or allowing them to be cruel or bigoted towards others. The quote reminds us that while we should respect and acknowledge differences, we shouldn’t remain silent if someone is not acting in good faith and their actions can disrupt social harmony and endanger others.

Life Lessons From This Quote

This quote ultimately encourages us to be mindful of difference and respect people who are different, but not put up with bigotry in others.

Stand Up for What's Right

Although tolerance is important, it should never be used as an excuse for cruelty, injustice, or destructive action. Recognise when quiet might be more harmful.

Establish Healthy Limits

Not everything is worthy of acceptance. Defend your personal principles and keep your distance from acts that are inconsiderate, unfair, or disrespectful.

Raise Your Voice Against Misconduct

Sometimes being courageous means acting in a way that others find unacceptable. Speaking up against injustice helps promote accountability and safeguard those who are vulnerable.

Strike a Balance Between Kindness and Wisdom

It is not necessary to ignore damaging behaviour in order to be sympathetic. Show compassion for others while maintaining your stance on inappropriate behaviour.

Assume Moral Responsibilities

Every person may contribute to making the environment more equitable. Even in the face of difficulty, refusing to condone wrongdoing demonstrates strength and character.

Who Was Thomas Mann?

Mann was a celebrated German writer, social commentator and essayist. He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929. Some of his best-known works are The Magic Mountain (1924), the tetralogy Joseph and His Brothers (1933–1943), and Doctor Faustus (1947). He also wrote short stories and novellas, including Death in Venice (1912).

Born into a Hanseatic family in Lübeck, Mann was the second son of Thomas Johann Heinrich Mann, a grain merchant and senator, and his wife, Júlia da Silva Bruhns, a Brazilian with German, Portuguese, and Native Brazilian ancestry who immigrated to Germany with her family when she was seven years old.

Mann left Germany for Switzerland in 1933 after Adolf Hitler rose to power. Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he relocated to the United States, where he remained for several years. After the war ended, Mann returned to Switzerland in 1952.

Mann gave anti-Nazi lectures in German to the German people via the BBC on September 1, 1939, when World War II broke out. He started making monthly broadcasts in October 1940. They were recorded in the United States, flown to London, and then broadcast on the longwave spectrum to Germany by the BBC German Service. Mann denounced Hitler and his "paladins" as barbaric philistines who were wholly disconnected from European culture in these eight-minute speeches.

He passed away in Switzerland at the age of 80.