Entity Quote by Anonymous
““But . . . but was evil an entity at all? What caused evil? Imperfection in activity . . . imperfection of matter. It could not stand alone. It could not exist by itself. It had to use a pre-existing Good. It was an imperfection of the Good, a privation of the Good, a perversion of the Good. By itself? By itself . . . it was . . . nothing. By itself it had no being. It was *not* an entity. . . . Calmly Thomas began to dictate to Briancourt a sequence of thoughts which tore Evil from its throne of being an entity, a principle in its own right, and relegated it to the status of a parasite.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Problem of Evil, unknown author, unknown date
Evil is not a substance but a lack of good, dependent on good for existence and thus a parasitic privation.
In simple terms: Evil is a lack of good, not a thing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that negativity stems from absence of good.
Themes
philosophy
theology
ethics
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- moral reasoning
- spiritual reflection
- theological debate
Key Concepts
privation
dependence
parasitic nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing evil as a lack change your response?
- Can good exist without recognizing its opposite?
A Different Perspective
Evil may be seen as a force in some traditions, challenging this view.
![“When I did The Fifth Element [1997], it was like, "Oh my goodness, who is this character?" I loved doing Resident Evil, but Resident Evil is Resident Evil with or without me. It's an entity of its own. It's not like Milla made Resident Evil.” quote by Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/milla-jovovich-7612_character_when-i-did-the-fifth-element-1997-it-was_691417.jpg)
