In "A Clockwork Orange," Anthony Burgess explores the nature of goodness and evil through the lens of his protagonist, Alex. The quote questions why people often seek to understand the roots of malevolence, while they take the existence of virtue for granted. This suggests a societal trend to scrutinize negative actions more than positive ones, implying a certain ease in accepting goodness without investigation.

This observation raises important reflections on morality and human behavior. By encouraging readers to question their assumptions about goodness, Burgess prompts a deeper inquiry into the complexities of ethics, urging a balanced understanding of both light and dark aspects of human nature.