--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What then is good? The knowledge of…" description: "\"“What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? The lack of knowledge of things.”\" — Seneca" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/seneca-956_evil_what-then-is-good-the-knowledge-of-thing_304372.jpg" --- # What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil?… ![“What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? The lack of knowledge of things.” quote by Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/seneca-956_evil_what-then-is-good-the-knowledge-of-thing_304372.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/seneca-956_evil_what-then-is-good-the-knowledge-of-thing_304372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/seneca-956_evil_what-then-is-good-the-knowledge-of-thing_304372.jpg) > ““What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? The lack of knowledge of things.”” [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Goodness arises from understanding; evil stems from ignorance. **In simple terms:** Knowing is good, not knowing is bad. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge to act virtuously. Themes knowledge virtue ignorance ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts epistemology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does ignorance shape your choices? - Can knowledge alone prevent wrongdoing? A Different Perspective Knowledge alone may not guarantee good actions without wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Lack of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [This age will die not as a result of some evil, but from a lack of passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/this-age-will-die-not-as-a-result-of-some-evil-but-from-a-lack-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“There is no one who is completely evil as to lack some goodness in him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-is-no-one-who-is-completely-evil-as-to-lack-some-goodness-in-him/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The love of money is the root of all evil." The lack of money is the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-love-of-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-the-lack-of-money-is-the/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [To organize work in such a manner that it becomes meaningless, boring, stultifying, or nerve-racking for the worker would be little short of criminal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/to-organize-work-in-such-a-manner-that-it-becomes-meaningless-boring/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [“Money is NOT the root of all evil. It's the LACK of money that causes evil and destruction”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-pora/money-is-not-the-root-of-all-evil-it-s-the-lack-of-money-that-causes/) Kevin Pora > [Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Knowledge signifies things known. Where there are no things known, there is no knowledge. Where there are no things to be known, there can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/knowledge-signifies-things-known-where-there-are-no-things-known/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [It is our knowledge - the things we are sure of - that makes the world go wrong and keeps us from seeing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/it-is-our-knowledge-the-things-we-are-sure-of-that-makes-the-world-go/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The knowledge of anything, since all things have causes, is not acquired or complete unless it is known by its causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/the-knowledge-of-anything-since-all-things-have-causes-is-not/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [All these factors are only valuable if you're curious. But in any case, the more knowledge you have, the more things are open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/all-these-factors-are-only-valuable-if-you-re-curious-but-in-any-case/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [The knowledge of all things is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-knowledge-of-all-things-is-possible/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [True knowledge is knowledge of why things are as they are, and not merely what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/true-knowledge-is-knowledge-of-why-things-are-as-they-are-and-not/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Knowledge is the things we have been taught and learned over time. Wisdom is the application of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lauinger/knowledge-is-the-things-we-have-been-taught-and-learned-over-time/) Mike Lauinger > [As we acquire knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/as-we-acquire-knowledge-things-do-not-become-more-comprehensible-but/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“In order to understand peace one must have an good knowledge of chaos. -GB”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-to-understand-peace-one-must-have-an-good-knowledge-of-chaos/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Seneca > [“You should, I need hardly say, live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/you-should-i-need-hardly-say-live-in-such-a-way-that-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-difficulty-comes-from-our-lack-of-confidence/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/fate-leads-the-willing-and-drags-along-the-unwilling/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“the wise man is self-sufficient, that he can do without friends, not that he desires to do without them. When I say "can," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-wise-man-is-self-sufficient-that-he-can-do-without-friends-not/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy; even if some obstacle arise, it is but like an intervening cloud, which floats beneath the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/virtue-alone-affords-everlasting-and-peace-giving-joy-even-if-some/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“I’ve come across people who say that there is a sort of inborn restlessness in the human spirit and an urge to change one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/i-ve-come-across-people-who-say-that-there-is-a-sort-of-inborn/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Economy is too late at the bottom of the purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/economy-is-too-late-at-the-bottom-of-the-purse/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“On Epicurus; He says: "Contended poverty is an honourable estate." Indeed, if it is contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/on-epicurus-he-says-contended-poverty-is-an-honourable-estate-indeed/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“...certain people have good, ordinary blood and others have an animated, lively sort of blood that comes to the face quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/certain-people-have-good-ordinary-blood-and-others-have-an-animated/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“we perish because we follow other men's examples: we should be cured of this if we were to disengage ourselves from the herd;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/we-perish-because-we-follow-other-men-s-examples-we-should-be-cured/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“they Whatever can make life truly happy is absolutely good in its own right because it cannot be warped into evil From whence then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/they-whatever-can-make-life-truly-happy-is-absolutely-good-in-its-own/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“And when the soul has yielded to pleasure, its functions and actions grow weak, and any undertaking comes from a nerveless and unsteady source.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/and-when-the-soul-has-yielded-to-pleasure-its-functions-and-actions/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) [Explore all 286 Seneca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? 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