Alvin wondered if it was true - if all men had evil in their hearts, and those men as were good, maybe they were simply the ones who controlled theirselves so well they could act contrary to their heart's desire. But if that were so, then no man was good, not one
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If goodness requires suppressing inner evil, then true goodness may be impossible.
- In plain terms
- Good people just control their bad impulses better than others.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-control is often mistaken for inherent virtue.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is a good act good if the intent was bad?
- Can anyone truly be free of selfish desires?
Another view
Some argue action matters more than internal desire.
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