Character Quote by Joseph de Maistre
“If there was no moral evil upon earth, there would be no physical evil.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Philosophical Discourses, 1760
Moral evil is the source of physical suffering; without it, physical evil would not exist.
In simple terms: Moral evil causes physical evil.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moral roots of physical problems.
Themes
ethics
theodicy
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- social policy
- personal behavior
- legal systems
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
causality
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all physical suffering traceable to moral wrongdoing?
- Can physical evil exist without moral evil?
A Different Perspective
Physical evil can arise from non‑moral causes, challenging the claim.
![“The notion that evil is non-rational is a more significant claim for Eagleton than at first appears, because he is (in this book [ On Evil ] as in others of his recent 'late period' prolific burst) anxious to rewrite theology: God (whom he elsewhere tells us is nonexistent, but this is no barrier…” quote by A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6a5/a-c-grayling-9398_atheism_the-notion-that-evil-is-non-rational-is_599668.jpg)
![“If the Irish once find out that there are any circumstances in which they can get free government grants, we shall have a system of mendicancy [begging] such as the world never knew”. After a million had starved to death he stated “The great evil with which we have to contend is not the physical…” quote by Charles Trevelyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/charles-trevelyan-72237_begging_if-the-irish-once-find-out-that-there-ar_780001.jpg)
