My friends, what is evil? It is to give in to three kinds…
““My friends, what is evil? It is to give in to three kinds of action — murder, theft and lust; to indulge in four kinds of speech — lies, slander, harsh or useless talk; to allow desire, anger and delusion to sway the mind. 'What then is good? It is to be free of these ten evils; it is to practise the rules of morality; it is always to be charitable.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Evil comprises three harmful actions and four destructive speech types; freedom from them defines goodness and moral practice.
In simple terms: Evil is bad deeds and words; goodness is freedom from them.
Key Takeaway
Practice moral discipline and charity.
Themes
ethics
self‑control
speech
desire
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Everyday decision‑making
- public discourse
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Virtue ethics
moral psychology
spiritual practice
Questions to Reflect On
- Which of the ten evils do you struggle with most?
- How can you cultivate charity daily?
A Different Perspective
Cultural differences may define evil differently.