Attributed to Edmund Burke, this famous quote:

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

Burke was a career politician in England during the time of the American Revolution, and generally was sympathetic to the revolutionaries. But the quote is in dispute as to whether he said it-- it does not appear in any of his writings or speeches.

Nonetheless, I bring up this quote because I have respected it. Until now. Why the change?

I define manipulate as "convincing or coercing someone to do something they didn't want to do, for your own gain." Let's examine this famous quote. First of all, I believe by nature that "good men" can't be people that do nothing. If they sit by and let evil happen, they aren't good. But this quote is pulled out and used so that you are guilted into the action the person wants you to take.

Next time someone throws that quote at you, remember that they have an agenda that they want to manipulate you towards action. Because if you're "good", chances are you're taking some sort of action already, and maybe God hasn't called you to the action the Quote Reminder Person wants you to do.