An aphorism is a statement using few words to express a truth or opinion. Aphorisms are often so obvious that when heard the listener will wonder why he or she never thought of it before.
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| Mahatma Gandhi |
Today I post a timely aphorism that has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, who was a great champion of peace. There is an interesting article on this quote that can be read by clicking this LINK. The site is QuoteInvestigator.com. According to this site whether or not Ghandi used these specific works, the quote does reflect his philosphy.
An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.
One of the hardest events in life is having to not get justice for a wrong done, to not retaliate when hurt in any way. I am in the group along with most other people who feels deep hurt and betrayal when someone attacks me in any way.
The truth, however is that the person done wrong should not feel this way. It is the person doing the wrong that will have to face the consequences of their actions whether it be now or when before Jesus Christ at the Judgment Seat.
If you have been betrayed, what wrong have you done? The answer is none. If you have been lied about, slandered, or physically injured what have you done? The answer is none. Justice should follow, but justice meted out in anger is not justice at all but instead is doing the same wrong that has been done to you. It lowers the one abused to the level of the abuser thus making both one in the same.
Betrayal by those close to you is painful and so is slander. At the same time, I wonder if we are better off without close relationships with people who behave in this manner. Slander is terrible especially when those you thought were your friends believe the lies. Here again, however, I wonder if we are not better off distancing ourselves from those who were supposed to know us that didn't even bother to find out first hand what the truth was.
When we can, the wrongs of the world should be addressed with logical, calm minds. Justice will never change what already has happened. Taking satisfaction that somebody got what was coming to them is pleasure not becoming of Godly character.
Lastly, I think of communities and countries that practice the eye for an eye kind of justice, where if you steal they chop off your hand and that kind of thing. This is not the kind of world in which I would want to live.
An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind. It is a good truth worth remembering, and I am glad to have come across it today.
This blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.
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