Skip to content

The sky and the earth and the waters and the things that…

“The sky and the earth and the waters and the things that are in them, the fishes, and the birds and the trees are not evil. All these are good; it is evil men who make this evil world.” quote by Saint Augustine
Download Open image
“The sky and the earth and the waters and the things that are in them, the fishes, and the birds and the trees are not evil. All these are good; it is evil men who make this evil world.”

Saint Augustine

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

All of creation is inherently good; moral evil arises from human actions, not nature.

In simple terms: Nature is good; people cause evil.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate compassion, recognize human responsibility for harm.

Themes

ethics theology human nature

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical theological

When to use this quote

  • environmental stewardship
  • personal responsibility
  • social justice
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

goodness evil free will

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does recognizing inherent goodness affect your view of environmental issues?
  • What responsibilities arise when we see evil as human-made?
A Different Perspective

Human beings can also act benevolently, mitigating evil.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Saint Augustine

Explore all 672 Saint Augustine quotes

More Bird quotes

Browse all 4,802 Bird quotes