# XXV explained — The City of God > Chapter companion for The City of God by Augustine of Hippo. ## What happens Augustine argues against the idea that suicide is a permissible way to avoid future sin, particularly the sin of consenting to sexual violation. He asserts that a soul guided by God will not consent to lustful desires, and that committing murder (suicide) to prevent a possible future adultery is a greater and irreparable sin compared to one that can be healed by penitence. ## Themes in this chapter ### Sin, Grace, and Redemption Discusses the hierarchy of sins and the possibility of penitence for some sins versus the irreparable nature of suicide. ### Morality and Virtue vs. Pagan Corruption Contrasts pagan reasoning that might justify suicide with Christian moral reasoning that trusts in God's aid and rejects self-murder. ## Character check-ins ### Augustine Author and primary voice arguing against suicide as a means to prevent sin. ## Key lines > But, we are told, there is ground to fear that, when the body is subjected to the enemy’s lust, the insidious pleasure of sense may entice the soul to consent to the sin, and steps must be taken to prevent so disastrous a result. Some argue that when one's body is violated, the deceptive pleasure of the senses might tempt the soul to agree to the sin, so action must be taken to avoid such a catastrophe. _Augustine presents the opposing view that suicide might prevent consent to sin._ > If we are so controlled by iniquity that innocence is out of the question, and we can at best but make a choice of sins, is not a future and uncertain adultery preferable to a present and certain murder? If we are so dominated by evil that we cannot be innocent and must choose between sins, isn't a possible future adultery better than a definite murder now? _Augustine uses a rhetorical question to argue that suicide (murder) is worse than a potential sin of adultery._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters