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Authority intoxicates
And makes mere sots of magistrates.
The fumes of it invade the brain
And make men giddy, proud and vain.
By this the fool commands the wise;
The noble with the base complies.
The sot assumes the role of wit
And cowards make the base submit.
Just as on a dark night black with clouds,
The sudden lightning glares and all is clearly shown,
Likewise rarely, through the Buddhas’ power,
Virtuous thoughts rise, brief and transient, in the world.
Virtue, thus, is weak; and always
Evil is of great and overwhelming strength.
Except for perfect bodhichitta,
What other virtue is there that can lay it low.
All the joy the world contains
Has come through wishing happiness for others.
All the misery the world contains
Has come through wanting pleasure for oneself.
Is there need for lengthy explanation?
Childish beings look out for themselves;
Buddhas labor for the good of others:
See the difference that divides them!
From chapter 8 of Shantideva's Guide for Bodhisattvas.
If we want to learn to have genuine wisdom, we must first cut off desire. How do we cut off desire? By not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying. These six great principles are the Dharma jewels for cutting off desire and obtaining genuine wisdom.
Virtue is an angel; but she is a blind one and must ask of knowledge to show her the pathway that leads to her goal. Mere knowledge, on the other hand, is ready to combat either in the ranks of sin or under the banners of righteousness.
Are there men and women in America today possessed of virtue sufficient to withstand and repel the forces of disorder? Or have we, as a people, grown too fond of creature-comforts and a fancied security to venture our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor in any cause at all? “The superior man thinks always of virtue,” Confucius told his disciples; “the common man thinks of comfort.”
Russell Kirk, from "Virtue: Can It Be Taught?" written in 1982
What that means is that if we stand by and do nothing and somebody else gets hurt, its our fault.
It also can mean that if we buy into ... "ok, but don't slow us down by questioning us, its divisive, we have the same goals are fighting for you too."
We will be responsible for the people that get hurt that shouldn't have been.
That is called converging lines of logic. And I used just two. I don't know the dude, but the dude was insightful.
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