CHAPTER XXXI—That Happiness does not consist in Worldly Power

A MAN is called good inasmuch as he attains to the sovereign good. But inasmuch as he has power he is not called either good or evil: for he is not good who can do good things, nor is a man evil of being able to do evil things. Therefore the highest good does not consist in being powerful.⁵⁶⁸⁵⁶⁸And therefore not in riches, for to a thinking mind the chief good of riches is the power that they give.

3. All power is over another (ad alterum). But the highest good is not over another.