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Saint Augustine Quotes about Evil

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If God is, why is there evil? But if God is not, why is there good?

If God is, why is there evil? But if God is not, why is there good?

Saint Augustine
God, Evil, Good God

Since God is the highest good, he would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil.

Saint Augustine
Omnipotence, Evil, Goodness

The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.

Saint Augustine
Philosophical, Evil, Saint
"Tractates on the Gospel of John" by Saint Augustine, tractate XII on John 3:6-21, § 13,

The sky and the earth and the waters and the things that are in them, the fishes, and the birds and the trees are not evil. All these are good; it is evil men who make this evil world.

Saint Augustine
Men, Sky, Evil

The greatest evil is physical pain.

Saint Augustine
Pain, Evil, Physical Pain
Soliloquies I.21

Do you know who the upright of heart are? They are those who wish what God wishes. Therefore, do not try to twist God's will to you own but correct your will to that of God. The will of God is a rule of conduct. By it you have the means of being converted and of correcting your evil ways.

Saint Augustine
Heart, Mean, Evil

Carnal lust rules where there is no love of God.

Saint Augustine
Evil, Lust, God Love

For, were it not good that evil things should also exist, the omnipotent God would almost certainly not allow evil to be, since beyond doubt it is just as easy for Him not to allow what He does not will, as for Him to do what He will.

Saint Augustine
Evil, Doubt, Doe

God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.

Saint Augustine
Philosophical, Evil, Judging
"Enchiridion" by Saint Augustine, (Ch. 27), (c. 420).

God Almighty would in no way permit evil in His works were He not so omnipotent and good that even out of evil He could work good.

Saint Augustine
Evil, Way, Permit

Other sins find their vent in the accomplishment of evil deeds, whereas pride lies in wait for good deeds, to destroy them.

Saint Augustine
Lying, Pride, Evil

Ex Malo Bounum (good out of evil).

Saint Augustine
Evil, Coping, Difficulty

He who commends the nature of the soul as the supreme good, and condemns the nature of the flesh as evil, at once both carnally desires the soul, and carnally flies the flesh, because he feels thus from human vanity, not from divine truth.

Saint Augustine
Vanity, Evil, Soul

Human law cannot punish or forbid all evil, since while doing away with evils it would do away with many good things, which would hinder the advance of the common good.

Saint Augustine
Law, Evil, Common

I too have sworn heedlessly and all the time, I have had this most repulsive and death-dealing habit. I'm telling your graces; from the moment I began to serve God , and saw what evil there is in forswearing oneself, I grew very afraid indeed, and out of fear I applied the brakes to this old, old, habit.

Saint Augustine
Old Habits, Evil, Grace
Sermons 180:10:1,

There is no possible source of evil except good.

Saint Augustine
Philosophical, Evil, Religion

It is salutary for us to learn to hold cheap such things, be they good or evil, as attach indifferently to good men and bad, and to covet those good things which belong only to good men, and flee those evils which belong only to evil men.

Saint Augustine
Men, Evil, Good Man
Saint Augustine of Hippo, Catholic Way Publishing (2015). “The City of God”, p.912, Catholic Way Publishing

Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved!

Saint Augustine
Evil, Lazy, Taught

The Law is not in fault, but our evil and wicked nature; even as a heap of lime is still and quiet until water is poured on it, but then it begins to smoke and burn, not from the fault of the water, but from the nature of the lime, which will not endure it.

Saint Augustine
Law, Evil, Water

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