Introductory Essay on the Manichæan Heresy, By Albert H. Newman, D.D., LL.D · Chapter I.—Literature · Chapter 4
Evil is Corruption of Measure, Form, or Order
Page 167 of 288
When accordingly it is inquired, whence is evil, it must first be inquired, what is evil, which is nothing else than corruption, either of the measure, or the form, or the order, that belong to nature. Nature therefore which has been corrupted, is called evil, for assuredly when incorrupt it is good; but even when corrupt, so far as it is nature it is good, so far as it is corrupted it is evil.
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Volume 4, ed. Philip Schaff (1886–89). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.