"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

[Borg warner]

 A fundamental truth, eloquently and succinctly stated and routinely attributed to Edmund Burke. But I've recently learned that supposedly Burke never uttered these exact words. 

However the essence of the quote can be traced back to philosopher John Stuart Mill, who delivered an 1867 inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews and stated:

 

 “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.”

 

I like Burke's version better.  It's like what was said at the end of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance":  When you have to choose between history and legend, print the legend.