Faults and qualities
Must be put to work
April 11th 2016
It is pointless bemoaning the fact that human nature is sinful and carries the seeds of evil within it. There is nothing to bemoan, only work to be done. All faults, whether of vanity, pride, anger, jealousy or sensuality, must be put to work. This is the only logical way to look at it, the only real solution. It is work that counts. Do not concern yourself with anything else; your qualities and faults are secondary. When you have found which work is best and have made up your mind to devote yourself sincerely to it, even your faults will become good servants.
Let’s take a very simple example: you want to lift a heavy weight. All the potential energy in your physical body is mobilized: muscles, heart, lungs and even the brain take part in this action. But if you do not have the will to do anything, all your organs stagnate and become sluggish. It is your will to work that mobilizes all your potential. By expending some effort, a criminal can end up surpassing the most virtuous of people in generosity, patience and kindness. Meanwhile those with ability often achieve nothing of note, because they are good just as they are, they don’t think about working.