Angels Quote by Augustine of Hippo
![“For God would never have created any human beings, let alone any angels, whose future evil he foreknew, if he had not known equally well how he would put them to use for the good and so adorn the course of the ages, like the most beautiful poem, with antitheses of a sort.[39]” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f87/augustine-of-hippo-2589_angels_for-god-would-never-have-created-any-hum_2503265.jpg)
““For God would never have created any human beings, let alone any angels, whose future evil he foreknew, if he had not known equally well how he would put them to use for the good and so adorn the course of the ages, like the most beautiful poem, with antitheses of a sort.[39]””
About This Quote
Source Book: Confessions, Augustine of Hippo, 397–400
God foreknows both evil and good, using even future wrongdoing to create a beautiful, purposeful history.
In simple terms: God can turn evil into good.
Key Takeaway
Trust that challenges serve a larger purpose.
Themes
theodicy
purpose
divine providence
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- ethical decision making
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
Free will
antithesis
redemptive narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile free will with divine foreknowledge?
- Can suffering be part of a larger good?
A Different Perspective
Even with foreknowledge, human freedom remains essential.
![“Time takes no holiday. It does not roll idly by, but through our senses works its own wonders in the mind. Time came and went from one day to the next; in its coming and its passing it brought me other hopes and other memories. [quoted in Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, p. 54]” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c2/augustine-of-hippo-2589_change_time-takes-no-holiday-it-does-not-roll-i_22609.jpg)
