The Enchiridion 24

sant'Agostino d'Ippona (354–430 d.C.) · De fide spe et charitate · PL 40, 230–290

24 The Secondary Causes of Evil are Ignorance and Lust PL 40, 244

This is the first evil that befell the intelligent creation—that is, its first privation of good. Following upon this crept in, and now even in opposition to man’s will, ignorance of duty, and lust after what is hurtful: and these brought in their train error and suffering, which, when they are felt to be imminent, produce that shrinking of the mind which is called fear. Further, when the mind attains the objects of its desire, however hurtful or empty they may be, error prevents it from perceiving their true nature, or its perceptions are overborne by a diseased appetite, and so it is puffed up with a foolish joy. From these fountains of evil, which spring out of defect rather than superfluity, flows every form of misery that besets a rational nature.

Secundae malorum causae, ignorantia et concupiscentia. Hoc primum est creaturae rationalis malum, id est, prima privatio boni: deinde jam etiam nolentibus subintravit ignorantia rerum agendarum, et concupiscentia noxiarum; quibus comites subinferuntur error et dolor: quae duo mala quando imminentia sentiuntur, ea fugitantis animi motus vocatur metus. Porro animus cum adipiscitur concupita, quamvis perniciosa vel inania, quoniam id errore non sentit, vel delectatione morbida vincitur, vel vana etiam laetitia ventilatur. Ex his morborum, non ubertatis, sed indigentiae tanquam fontibus omnis miseria naturae rationalis emanat.

Philip Schaff (ed.), Buffalo/New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886-1889. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).

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