No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

Summary

This quote suggests that a person cannot be truly praised for their goodness if they do not possess the ability or choice to be wicked. The essence of true goodness lies in the capacity to act otherwise, and without that power, acts of apparent goodness may simply be due to laziness or a lack of will. In essence, the quote highlights the importance of free will and the ability to choose between good and evil as a determinant of true goodness.

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