Good is positive. Evil is merely privative

“ Good is positive. Evil is merely privative, not absolute: it is like cold, which is the privation of heat. All evil is so much death or nonentity. Benevolence is absolute and real. So much benevolence as a man hath, so much life hath he. ”

This quote means evil has no independent substance of its own but is merely the absence of good, while benevolence is the true measure of life and reality.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, philosopher, and poet, known for his work on transcendentalism and individualism. His quotes often reflect self-reliance, wisdom, and introspection. Emerson inspires writers, thinkers, and students to embrace personal growth, independent thought, and the philosophical exploration of life and nature.