--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good and evil are essential differences…" description: "\"Good and evil are essential differences of the act of the will. For good and evil pertain essentially to the will; just as truth and falsehood pertain ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/thomas-aquinas-837_differences_good-and-evil-are-essential-differences_2985482.jpg" --- # Good and evil are essential differences of the act of the… ![“Good and evil are essential differences of the act of the will. For good and evil pertain essentially to the will; just as truth and falsehood pertain to the reason, the act of which is distinguished essentially by the difference of truth and falsehood (according as we say that an opinion is true…” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/thomas-aquinas-837_differences_good-and-evil-are-essential-differences_2985482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/thomas-aquinas-837_differences_good-and-evil-are-essential-differences_2985482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/thomas-aquinas-837_differences_good-and-evil-are-essential-differences_2985482.jpg) > “Good and evil are essential differences of the act of the will. For good and evil pertain essentially to the will; just as truth and falsehood pertain to the reason, the act of which is distinguished essentially by the difference of truth and falsehood (according as we say that an opinion is true or false.) Consequently, good and evil volition are acts differing in species.” [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral choices are rooted in the will, just as truth belongs to reason; good and evil are distinct volitional acts. **In simple terms:** Good and evil stem from will choices, like truth from reason. Key Takeaway Recognize the will’s role in moral decisions. Themes ethics will morality philosophy Mood reflective serious Type philosophical theological ethical When to use this quote - personal decision making - legal judgments - ethical counseling - leadership choices Key Concepts volition moral ontology truth versus falsehood Questions to Reflect On - How does your will shape your moral choices? - Can reason alone determine good and evil? A Different Perspective Moral judgments also involve emotions and social contexts, not just rational will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts Differing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-differing-4664870/) [Difference Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-truth-786038/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Distinguished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguished/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Pertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-pertain-4664868/) [Evil Volition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-volition-4664869/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Good evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-evil/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [True or false](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-or-false/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth and falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-and-falsehood/) [Volition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volition/) ## Related quotes > [Belief is with them mechanical, voluntary: they believe what they are paid for - they swear to that which turns to account. 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B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good and evil are essential differences of the act of the will. For good and evil pertain essentially to the will; just as truth and falsehood pertain to the reason, the act of which is distinguished essentially by the difference of truth and falsehood (according as we say that an opinion is true or false.) 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