--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not…" description: "\"“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/epicurus-1642_able_is-god-willing-to-prevent-evil-but-not-a_740282.jpg" --- # Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is… ![“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" Epicurus” quote by Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/epicurus-1642_able_is-god-willing-to-prevent-evil-but-not-a_740282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/epicurus-1642_able_is-god-willing-to-prevent-evil-but-not-a_740282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/epicurus-1642_able_is-god-willing-to-prevent-evil-but-not-a_740282.jpg) > ““Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" Epicurus”” [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions the logical problem of evil, challenging the compatibility of omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and the existence of evil. **In simple terms:** It asks why a god who can prevent evil doesn’t, and why a god who wants to doesn’t exist Themes Consider the definitions of power and willingness in theological arguments. Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical critical When to use this quote - Omnipotence - omnibenevolence - logical paradox Key Concepts theology philosophy problem of evil Practical Applications - Philosophical debate - religious education - ethical counseling Questions to Reflect On - What does “evil” mean in this context? - Can power be limited by moral choice? A Different Perspective The argument assumes a single deity with human-like attributes, ignoring alternative metaphysical views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Omnipotent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-omnipotent-5781382/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-epicurus-5781381/) [Omnipotent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotent/) [Omnipotent Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotent-able-5781383/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Willing God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-god-921211/) ## Related quotes > [Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-neither-able-nor-willing-then-why-call-him-god/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-able-but-not-willing-then-he-is-malevolent/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The gods can either take away evil from the world and will not, or, being willing to do so, cannot; or they neither can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-gods-can-either-take-away-evil-from-the-world-and-will-not-or/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [God delights to increase the faith of His children. 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God willing and He will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-is-willing-god-will-save-god-will-rescue-god-will-restore-god/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/holiness-does-not-consist-in-mystic-speculations-enthusiastic/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Desire is the putting of my will into God’s concern. It’s not a passive, sitting back in your easy chair, folding your arms sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/desire-is-the-putting-of-my-will-into-god-s-concern-it-s-not-a/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Many people are willing to be God-centered as long as they feel that God is man-centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/many-people-are-willing-to-be-god-centered-as-long-as-they-feel-that/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More by Epicurus > [Most beautiful is the sight of those near and dear to us when our original kinship makes us of one mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/most-beautiful-is-the-sight-of-those-near-and-dear-to-us-when-our/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/any-man-who-does-not-think-that-what-he-has-is-more-than-ample-is-an/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“The opinions held by most people about the gods are not true conceptions of them but fallacious notions, according to which awful penalties are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-opinions-held-by-most-people-about-the-gods-are-not-true/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death is nothing to us: for that which is dissolved is without sensation; and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-is-nothing-to-us-for-that-which-is-dissolved-is-without/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Neither one should hesitate about dedicating oneself to philosophy when young, nor should get tired of doing it when one's old, because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/neither-one-should-hesitate-about-dedicating-oneself-to-philosophy/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-thou-wilt-make-a-man-happy-add-not-unto-his-riches-but-take-away/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Being happy is knowing how to be content with little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/being-happy-is-knowing-how-to-be-content-with-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/riches-do-not-exhilarate-us-so-much-with-their-possession-as-they/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/i-have-never-wished-to-cater-to-the-crowd-for-what-i-know-they-do-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The pleasant life is not produced by continual drinking and dancing, nor sexual intercourse, nor rare dishes of sea food and other delicacies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-pleasant-life-is-not-produced-by-continual-drinking-and-dancing/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If the gods have the will to remove evil and cannot, then they are not all-powerful. 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