Beauty Quote by Walker Percy
““Can good come from evil? Have you ever considered the possibility that one might undertake a search not for God but for evil? You people may have been on the wrong track all these years with all that talk about God and signs of his existence, the order and beauty of the universe--that's all washed up and you know it. The more we know about the beauty and order of the universe, the less God has to do with it. I mean, who cares about such things as the Great Watchmaker? But what if you could show me a sin ? a purely evil deed, an intolerable deed for which there is no explanation? Now there's a mystery. People would sit up and take notice. I would be impressed. You could almost make a believer out of me. In times when nobody is interested in God, what would happen if you could prove the existence of sin, pure and simple? Wouldn't that be a windfall for you? A new proof of God's existence! If there is such a thing as sin, evil, a living malignant force, there must be a God! I'm serious. When was the last time you saw a sin ? Oh, you've seen quite a few? Well, I haven't, not lately. I mean a pure unadulterated sin. You're not going to tell me that some poor miserable slob of a man who beats up his own child has committed a sin ? You don't look impressed. Yes, you know me too well. I was only joking. Well, half joking.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Moviegoer, 1961
The search for undeniable evil challenges belief in a divine order, suggesting proof of sin could revive faith.
In simple terms: Finding pure evil might be used to argue God’s existence.
Consider evidence beyond conventional proofs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- debates on morality
- ethical dilemmas
- theological discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can pure evil ever be objectively identified?
- Does proving sin truly support belief in God?
Evil may be interpreted subjectively, weakening its evidentiary power.