summum bonum
Americannoun
noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After all, if what is good for a nation is more important than what is good for a family, surely the greatest good, the secular summum bonum, is the good of the human race.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2011
This fulness of life has been the summum bonum, the highest good, which mankind has sighed for in every age and clime.
From Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism With an Essay on Baal Worship, On The Assyrian Sacred "Grove," And Other by Inman, Thomas
However, at last we were both too eager to enjoy the summum bonum of earthly felicity to give up much time to the preliminaries.
From Laura Middleton; Her Brother and her Lover by Anonymous
We must repeat here the warning which was found necessary in the case of Plato, who also called the summum bonum happiness.
From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)
The modern student of monasticism, bred in an age which regards freedom as its summum bonum and holds discipline at a discount, cannot but feel sympathy with the nuns.
From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Power, Eileen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
