--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first kind of evil is that which is…" description: "\"The first kind of evil is that which is caused to man by the circumstance that he is subject to genesis and destruction, or that he possesses a body.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/maimonides-2639_body_the-first-kind-of-evil-is-that-which-is_2921195.png" --- # The first kind of evil is that which is caused to man by… ![“The first kind of evil is that which is caused to man by the circumstance that he is subject to genesis and destruction, or that he possesses a body.” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/maimonides-2639_body_the-first-kind-of-evil-is-that-which-is_2921195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/maimonides-2639_body_the-first-kind-of-evil-is-that-which-is_2921195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/maimonides-2639_body_the-first-kind-of-evil-is-that-which-is_2921195.png) > “The first kind of evil is that which is caused to man by the circumstance that he is subject to genesis and destruction, or that he possesses a body.” [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil arises from human existence and bodily constraints, not just external forces. **In simple terms:** Evil stems from human condition. Key Takeaway Reflect on existential limits. Themes ethics philosophy existentialism Mood inquisitive philosophical Type ethical existential When to use this quote - moral philosophy - personal reflection - healthics Key Concepts theology human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do bodily limits shape moral choices? - Can evil exist without a body? A Different Perspective Physical constraints may not fully explain evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Caused Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caused-man-508763/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Destruction Possesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction-possesses-4257332/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Caused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-caused-4257330/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genesis/) [Genesis Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genesis-destruction-4257331/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Man Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-circumstance-275290/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) ## Related quotes > [Circumstance does not make the man. Circumstance reveals man to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/circumstance-does-not-make-the-man-circumstance-reveals-man-to-himself/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/the-desire-of-power-in-excess-caused-the-angels-to-fall-the-desire-of-2/) [Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/) > [I have voted that climate change is happening and it's also caused by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kirk/i-have-voted-that-climate-change-is-happening-and-it-s-also-caused-by/) [Mark Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kirk/) > [“Hurricanes, after all, are the product of global warming, caused by man and his insatiable lust for SUVs (but not private jets).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/hurricanes-after-all-are-the-product-of-global-warming-caused-by-man/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Wars are not acts of God. They are caused by man, by man-made institutions, by the way in which man has organized his society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wars-are-not-acts-of-god-they-are-caused-by-man-by-man-made/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place-2/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-because-it-was-made-according-to/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [So much confusion about belief in God, morality, and science arises, not from what people say they believe, but rather from mistaken assumptions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-j-beckwith/so-much-confusion-about-belief-in-god-morality-and-science-arises-not/) [Francis J. Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-j-beckwith/) > [In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/in-a-nutshell-the-bible-from-genesis-3-to-revelation-22-tells-the/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Everything is not black-and-white . I'm really interested in the gray area - not justifying it, not glorifying it, not condoning it, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/everything-is-not-black-and-white-i-m-really-interested-in-the-gray/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) > [“Enoch walked with God . . .                          – Genesis 5:22”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/enoch-walked-with-god-genesis-5-22/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) ## More by Maimonides > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Hear the truth from whomever says it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/hear-the-truth-from-whomever-says-it/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-better-and-more-satisfactory-to-acquit-a-thousand-guilty/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [God cannot be compared to anything. Note this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/god-cannot-be-compared-to-anything-note-this/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Even the existence of this corporeal element, low as it in reality is, because it is the source of death and all evils, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/even-the-existence-of-this-corporeal-element-low-as-it-in-reality-is/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in-mind-that-by-faith-we-do-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The philosophers likewise assume that in Nature there is nothing in vain, so that everything that is not the product of human industry serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-philosophers-likewise-assume-that-in-nature-there-is-nothing-in/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/that-which-is-produced-with-intention-has-passed-over-from-non/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/no-form-remains-permanently-in-a-substance-a-constant-change-takes/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Now, we occupy a lowly position, both in space and rank in comparison with the heavenly sphere, and the Almighty is Most High not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/now-we-occupy-a-lowly-position-both-in-space-and-rank-in-comparison/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-men-possessed-wisdom-which-stands-in-the-same-relation-to-the-form/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Know that the difficulties which lead to confusion in the question what is the purpose of the Universe or of any of its parts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/know-that-the-difficulties-which-lead-to-confusion-in-the-question/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [You will find that there is no other difference of opinion as regards any portions of the Universe, except that the philosophers believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/you-will-find-that-there-is-no-other-difference-of-opinion-as-regards/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) [Explore all 156 Maimonides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. 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