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Thomas Aquinas Quotes about Evil

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One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.

One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.

Thomas Aquinas
Evil, Use, Action

Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.

Thomas Aquinas
Philosophical, Evil, Catholic
Thomas Aquinas (1997). “Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas: Volume One”, p.1013, Hackett Publishing

God himself would not permit evil in this world if good did not come of it for the benefit and harmony of the universe.

Thomas Aquinas
Evil, Benefits, World

The fact that the evil ones, as long as they live, can be corrected from their errors does not prohibit that they may be justly executed, for the danger which threatens from their way of life is greater and more certain than the good which may be expected from their improvement.

Thomas Aquinas
Errors, Long, Evil
Thomas Aquinas (1975). “Summa Contra Gentiles: Book 3: Providence”, p.266, University of Notre Dame Pess

Sloth is sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good...it is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds.

Thomas Aquinas
Men, Evil, Sloth
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Catholic Way Publishing (2014). “The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition”, p.5673, Catholic Way Publishing

In the realm of evil thoughts none induces to sin as much as do thoughts that concern the pleasure of the flesh.

Thomas Aquinas
Evil, Catholic, Purity And Love

Prostitution in the towns is like the cesspool in the palace; take away the cesspool and the palace will become an unclean and evil smelling-place.

Thomas Aquinas
Evil, Palaces, Towns
"Homage to Qwert Yuiop: Selected Journalism 1978-1985 (What Shakespeare Smelt)". Book by Anthony Burgess, 1986.

Natural inclinations are present in things from God, who moves all things. So it is impossible for the natural inclinations of a species to be toward evil in itself. But there is in all perfect animals a natural inclination toward carnal union. Therefore it is impossible for carnal union to be evil in itself.

Thomas Aquinas
Moving, Animal, Evil
Thomas Aquinas (1975). “Summa Contra Gentiles: Book 3: Providence”, p.182, University of Notre Dame Pess

It seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the word "God" means that He is infinite goodness. If, therefore, God existed, there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist.

Thomas Aquinas
Mean, Two, Evil
Saint Thomas (Aquinas) (1845). “Summa Theologica, (Complete)”, p.42, Library of Alexandria

They also have at that critical point of death the opportunity to be converted to God through repentance. And if they are so obstinate that even at the point of death their heart does not draw back from malice, it is possible to make a quite probable judgment that they would never come away from evil.

Thomas Aquinas
Heart, Opportunity, Evil

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
Differences, Evil, True Or False
Thomas Aquinas, Anton C. Pegis (1997). “Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Volume 2”, p.335, Hackett Publishing

We ought to cherish the body. Our body's substance is not from an evil principle, as the Manicheans imagine, but from God. And therefore, we ought to cherish the body by the friendship of love, by which we love God.

Thomas Aquinas
Evil, Principles, Substance
"Summa Theologica". Book by Thomas Aquinas, II - II, q. 25, art. 5, 1265 - 1274.

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