Thomas Aquinas said of suffering, as Aristotle had said of…
““Thomas Aquinas said of suffering, as Aristotle had said of shame, that it was a thing not good in itself; but a thing which might have a certain goodness in particular circumstances. That is to say, if evil is present, pain at recognition of the evil, being a kind of knowledge, is relatively good.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Suffering can contain value when it reveals deeper truths or moral insight.
In simple terms: Pain can teach us.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning in hardship.
Themes
suffering
knowledge
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- ethical dilemmas
- spiritual growth
- educational settings
Key Concepts
philosophy
theodicy
Questions to Reflect On
- What lessons have you learned from suffering?
- Can all pain be justified?
A Different Perspective
Not all pain leads to growth; some is merely harmful.