Accounts Quote by Thomas Aquinas
“It is due to neither impotence nor ignorance on God’s part that evils occur in the world, but it is owing to the order of his wisdom and to the greatness of his goodness, whence come the many and divers grades of goodness in things, many of which would be lacking were he to allow no evil to exist. Thus there would be no good of patience without the evil of persecution, nor the good of the preservation of its life in a lion, without the evil of the destruction of the animals on which it lives.”
About This Quote
Source Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 13, Article 2
Evil exists because God’s greater plan requires contrast; good and evil are interdependent in the hierarchy of creation.
In simple terms: Evil allows good to be recognized and valued.
Key Takeaway
Accept that challenges reveal deeper goods.
Themes
theodicy
philosophy
divine order
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal suffering
- ethical dilemmas
- spiritual growth
- theological study
Key Concepts
free will
contrast
hierarchy of being
Questions to Reflect On
- How does suffering shape moral character?
- Can goodness exist without its opposite?
A Different Perspective
Evil may be unnecessary if an omnipotent deity could create good without it.
![“By the divine providence [animals] are intended for man's use... Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by killing or in any other way whatsoever.” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f48/thomas-aquinas-837_animal_by-the-divine-providence-animals-are-int_112669.jpg)
