--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness…" description: "\"Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.\" — C. S. Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png" --- # Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled… ![“Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png) > “Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Goodness originates pure; corruption turns it into badness, requiring an original good source. **In simple terms:** Goodness becomes bad when spoiled; original good precedes it. Key Takeaway Preserve purity to avoid corruption. Themes morality goodness corruption theology philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - personal behavior - societal norms - religious teachings - legal systems Key Concepts ethics theology metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can protect goodness? - Can badness arise without prior goodness? A Different Perspective Not all bad actions stem from spoiled goodness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) ## Related quotes > [Badness is only spoiled goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can be good for the mere sake of goodness; you cannot be bad for the mere sake of badness. You can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-be-good-for-the-mere-sake-of-goodness-you-cannot-be-bad-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All badness is spoiled goodness. A bad apple is a good apple that became rotten. Because evil has no capital of its own, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/all-badness-is-spoiled-goodness-a-bad-apple-is-a-good-apple-that/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“When the good is spoiled, it means that the best is coming…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayathri-purushothaman/when-the-good-is-spoiled-it-means-that-the-best-is-coming/) gayathri purushothaman > [Some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/some-natures-are-too-good-to-be-spoiled-by-praise/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Badness cannot succeed even in being bad in the same way in which goodness is good. Goodness is, so to speak, itself: badness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/badness-cannot-succeed-even-in-being-bad-in-the-same-way-in-which/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“The good is twice described in the Philebus as perfect, self- sufficient and seeked by all conscious beings. And the good does not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-good-is-twice-described-in-the-philebus-as-perfect-self/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If we read the Gospel, we shall know the goodness of the Good News.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-read-the-gospel-we-shall-know-the-goodness-of-the-good-news/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We can be wise from goodness and good from wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/we-can-be-wise-from-goodness-and-good-from-wisdom/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one's own goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/confidence-in-the-goodness-of-another-is-good-proof-of-one-s-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Goodness is to do good to the deserving and love the good and hate the wicked, and not to be eager to inflict punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/goodness-is-to-do-good-to-the-deserving-and-love-the-good-and-hate/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [How can you go wrong with two people in love? If a good boy loves a good girl, good. If a good boy loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/how-can-you-go-wrong-with-two-people-in-love-if-a-good-boy-loves-a/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [“Goodness is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/goodness-is-good/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [To talk goodness is not good... only to do it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/to-talk-goodness-is-not-good-only-to-do-it-is/) Chinese Proverb ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Badness quotes > [You don't have to be a good person to be a good writer--history shows it's better if you're not--but you have to understand your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-abrahams/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-good-person-to-be-a-good-writer-history-shows/) [Peter Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-abrahams/) > [I think when you don't know where you stand with someone, they can surprise you in their goodness and their badness, and that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-think-when-you-don-t-know-where-you-stand-with-someone-they-can/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [A man of bad character punishes his own soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/a-man-of-bad-character-punishes-his-own-soul/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [“If you have had a bad day, remember that tomorrow is a wonderful gift and a new chance to try again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/if-you-have-had-a-bad-day-remember-that-tomorrow-is-a-wonderful-gift/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The first link between my soul and Christ is not my goodness but my badness, not my merit but my misery, not my riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-first-link-between-my-soul-and-christ-is-not-my-goodness-but-my/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why of the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/they-don-t-go-into-what-is-the-cause-of-goodness-so-why-of-the-other/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“But the greatest cause of verbicide is the fact that most people are obviously far more anxious to express their approval and disapproval of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/but-the-greatest-cause-of-verbicide-is-the-fact-that-most-people-are/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [A bad man can do a million times more harm than a beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-bad-man-can-do-a-million-times-more-harm-than-a-beast/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [All the best of the monsters played for sympathy. That goes for my father, Karloff, myself and all the others. They all won the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-chaney-jr/all-the-best-of-the-monsters-played-for-sympathy-that-goes-for-my/) Lon Chaney, Jr > [Before you^say something Bad to^others ask your-self^why are^you the only one saw^the badness and-->](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/before-you-say-something-bad-to-others-ask-your-self-why-are-you-the/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament > [The Bible is one long story of God meeting our rebellion with His rescue, our sin with His salvation, our guilt with His grace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-bible-is-one-long-story-of-god-meeting-our-rebellion-with-his/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [When you've been afraid of something for long enough and it comes to pass, the terrible thing is a release. For in the belly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/when-you-ve-been-afraid-of-something-for-long-enough-and-it-comes-to/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [It is possible that the contemplation of cruelty will not make us humane but cruel; that the reiteration of the badness of our spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/it-is-possible-that-the-contemplation-of-cruelty-will-not-make-us/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Is this how you repay my goodness--with badness?” cried the boy. “Of course,” said the crocodile out of the corner of his mouth. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/is-this-how-you-repay-my-goodness-with-badness-cried-the-boy-of/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [“I decide a book is bad if I get angrier and angrier as I read it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-t-o-hara/i-decide-a-book-is-bad-if-i-get-angrier-and-angrier-as-i-read-it/) Daniel T. O'Hara Browse all 124 Badness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Badness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_badness_goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-i_2127153.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first…” — C. S. Lewis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "C. S. Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Goodness is, so to speak, itself;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```