The quote "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" is commonly attributed to Edmund Burke, but there is no evidence that he ever actually said or wrote this exact phrase. The closest verified origin traces back to the utilitarian philosopher John Stuart Mill, who said in an 1867 address: "Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." The misattribution to Burke became popular partly through later references, including a speech by John F. Kennedy, but Burke himself expressed a similar sentiment in different wording about the need for good men to unite against bad men, not this exact quote. In short, while the quote captures a powerful idea, it is best credited to John Stuart Mill as its earliest clear source, not Edmund Burke.
