---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (The difficulty over the question of…"
description: "\"(The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies in) how it is irreconcilable with the Goodness of God, to put any Persons at all upon a nece..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/samuel-clarke-99846_difficulty_the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eter_894487.jpg"
---

#  (The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies…

![“(The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies in) how it is irreconcilable with the Goodness of God, to put any Persons at all upon a necessity of making such an Option, wherein if they choose amiss, the Misery they incur must be irrevocable.” quote by Samuel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/samuel-clarke-99846_difficulty_the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eter_894487.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/samuel-clarke-99846_difficulty_the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eter_894487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/samuel-clarke-99846_difficulty_the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eter_894487.jpg)

> “(The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies in) how it is irreconcilable with the Goodness of God, to put any Persons at all upon a necessity of making such an Option, wherein if they choose amiss, the Misery they incur must be irrevocable.”

Samuel Clarke

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The problem of evil questions how a good God could allow eternal torment, highlighting moral responsibility and divine justice.

**In simple terms:** Eternal torment challenges divine goodness.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on moral choice and divine nature.

Themes

theodicy philosophy eternity

Mood

argumentative theological

Type

Difficulty:1 Eternal:1 Goodness:1 Goodness of god:1 Hell:1 Ifs:0 Irrevocable:1 Lying:0 Misery:1 Persons:1 Suffering:1 Torment:1 Eternal Torments:1 Irreconcilable Goodness:1 Irreconcilable:1 Lies Irreconcilable:0 Incur Irrevocable:0

When to use this quote

- Human free will may conflict with divine omnipotence.

Key Concepts

religion ethics theology

Questions to Reflect On

- thoughtful
- serious

A Different Perspective

Is eternal punishment just?;How does free will relate to suffering?

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[Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-of-god/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/)

## Related quotes

> [The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies in how it is irreconcilable with the Goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-clarke/the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eternal-torments-lies-in-how-it-2/)

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> [There is a great difference between the irreconcilable and the self-contradict ory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/there-is-a-great-difference-between-the-irreconcilable-and-the-self/)

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## More by Samuel Clarke

> [The difficulty over the question of eternal torments lies in how it is irreconcilable with the Goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-clarke/the-difficulty-over-the-question-of-eternal-torments-lies-in-how-it-2/)

Samuel Clarke

Explore all 2 Samuel Clarke quotes

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