Evil is thus a kind of parasite on goodness. If there were…
“Evil is thus a kind of parasite on goodness. If there were no good by which to measure things, evil could not exist. Men sometimes forget this, and say, there is so much evil in the world that there cannot be a God. They are forgetting that, if there were no God, they would have no way of distinguishing evil from goodness. The very concept of evil admits and recognizes a Standard, a Whole, a Rule, an Order. Nobody would say that his automobile was out of order if he did not have a conception of how an automobile ought to run.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Evil exists as a contrast to goodness; without a standard of good, evil cannot be defined, implying a moral order that suggests a higher power.
In simple terms: Evil is defined by goodness; without goodness, evil has no meaning.
Key Takeaway
Consider the role of moral standards in defining evil.
Themes
morality
theology
philosophy
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- ethical debates
- religious discussions
- philosophical essays
Key Concepts
good‑evil dichotomy
objective morality
theistic arguments
Questions to Reflect On
- Is a universal moral standard necessary?
- How does belief in God affect concepts of evil?
A Different Perspective
Moral frameworks can be subjective across cultures.