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Full Idea
There is only one evil - egoism; there is only one good - love. ...Love, but truly! All other virtues will automatically come to you.
Gist of Idea
Egoism is the only evil, love the only good; genuine love produces all the other virtues
Source
Ludwig Feuerbach (Fragments on My Philosophical Development [1839], 1834-6)
Book Ref
Feuerbach,Ludwig: 'The Fiery Brook: Selected Writings', ed/tr. Hanfi,Zawar [Anchor 1972], p.278
A Reaction
This is a rather Christian idea of virtue, coming from the great atheist. Does tough love come from love?
| 64 | There is no right time or place or way or person for the committing of adultery; it is just wrong [Aristotle] |
| 519 | One must avoid even speaking of evil deeds [Democritus (attr)] |
| 23182 | Legal justice is supreme, because it directs the other virtues to the common good [Aquinas] |
| 19458 | Egoism is the only evil, love the only good; genuine love produces all the other virtues [Feuerbach] |
| 24110 | Some things we would never do, even for the highest ideals [Nietzsche] |
| 4339 | According to virtue ethics, two agents may respond differently, and yet both be right [Hursthouse] |