SO GOOD QUOTES

Now, let’s delve into how harming others ultimately harms ourselves. Consider a person who wrongs, insults, or deceives another; whom do they harm first? It’s undeniably themselves. While the immediate damage might be financial, the deeper consequences affect the soul, leading to destruction and punishment. Envy is another example. When someone harbors envy, they injure themselves first. Injustice inherently causes immeasurable harm to its perpetrator. Yes, they may harm others, but the harm to themselves outweighs it.

Let’s examine in our own lives the consequences of certain actions, particularly when parts or functions within us overstep their proper bounds and assume the roles of others. Consider if the spleen, for instance, were to abandon its designated place and seize on the functions of another organ—wouldn’t this be considered a disease? Similarly, if the moisture within us were to fill every possible space, wouldn’t it result in conditions like dropsy and gout, ultimately harming itself and other parts? Likewise, if bile seeks an extensive area and blood is dispersed throughout the body without restraint, it disrupts the natural order.Applying this analogy to the soul, think about what happens when emotions like anger and lust exceed their proper measure. Just as excess is detrimental to the body, if the eye attempts to take in more than it should or receives an excessive amount of light, it faces ruin. In the soul, if we indulge in an excessive pursuit of food, the consequences can be severe.

—St. John Chrysostom