New molecular methods that add or modify genes can protect plants from diseases and pests and improve crops in ways that are both more environmentally benign and beyond the capability of older methods.
The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent.
Myths about the dire effects of genetically modified foods on health and the environment abound, but they have not held up to scientific scrutiny. And, although many concerns have been expressed about the potential for unexpected consequences, the unexpected effects that have been observed so far have been benign.
Sometimes it's better to have a benign dictator than a dumb democracy, to be honest.
When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign is solitude.
Being made to feel like an irrelevant child was probably an asset. Benign negligence is not a bad parental attitude or at least a cross between a benevolent dictator and benign negligence - you should just let kids crack on with it.
I wasn't raised Catholic; I just really like the image of a neutral and benign Mary floating around somewhere, being nice to people.
Art school had taught me it was far better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success.
A certain slightly cruel disregard for the feelings of living people is simply part of the package. I think a writer, if he's any good, is not an entirely benign entity in the world.
The nature of peoples is first crude, then severe, then benign, then delicate, finally dissolute.