Ennius wrote, “The good is mostly in the absence of bad”…
““Ennius wrote, “The good is mostly in the absence of bad”; Nimium boni est, cui nihil est mali.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Suggests that goodness is defined by the lack of evil, implying moral quality is relational.
In simple terms: Goodness is the absence of evil.
Focus on preventing harm to be good.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- moral decision making
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it enough to avoid evil?
- How do we define good beyond non‑evil?
Absence of evil does not guarantee positive virtues.