Full Idea
It is certain that God sets greater store by a man than a lion; nevertheless it can hardly be said with certainty that God prefers a single man in all respects to the whole of lion-kind.
Gist of Idea
God prefers men to lions, but might not exterminate lions to save one man
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (The Theodicy [1710], p.189), quoted by Franklin Perkins - Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed 2.IV
Book Reference
Perkins,Franklin: 'Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed' [Continuum 2007], p.51
A Reaction
Lovely problems arise when you guess at God's values! We have the same problem. Would you kill a poacher who was wiping out the last remaining lions? How many lions would you kill to save a human?