A man’s greatness can be measured by his broadmindedness. The broadminded man can feel anger when it is necessary, and likewise shed tears when they are called for.
Some people endeavor to train themselves to never lose their tempers, as though regarding this to be the highest form of self-cultivation. This sounds plausible enough at first, but it is by no means an ideal state.
When anger is called for, one should naturally feel angry, and when events do not merit anger, one should feel not even the slightest ire—this is ideal.
The prouder a person, the more vulnerable they are; the more short-tempered a person, the pettier their nature; and the more brutal a person, the weaker they actually are. Moreover, the more stubborn a person, the sooner will their resistance break down. Therefore, these sorts of people are very easy to control and manipulate.
Those who are hardest for us to deal with are those who cannot be easily labeled as foolish or wise, knowledgeable or ignorant, composed or troubled.
We cannot possibly hope to discern a person’s true nature after only knowing them for a few weeks. Still more, our very first impressions of others are not the least bit reliable.
To do good deeds for others merely in pursuit of one’s own aims is in effect to love oneself through the medium of others. Without any ulterior motive, we must love others simply for the sake of loving them.
To dote upon a person only in their presence is not love. To truly love someone one must labor for them even though they may never know of it. One must not indulge in petty, self-absorbed love. From a broad viewpoint, to strive to act solely in another’s best interests is the true way to love someone.
There are many people who can be called nice, or honest, but are essentially no more than that, and have no real contribution to make.
No matter whether a person is deeply evil or wholly good, if they possess great ability and resourcefulness, this is evidence of their strong spirit.
Those who have a markedly evil side have a strong talent for doing good as well, and if the deeply evil man could only come to his senses and truly repent, he would be a far greater person than the half-hearted doer of timid good deeds.
In ancient times, the founders of religions did not become such because of their great learning or distinguished lineage. They became leaders solely due to their strong faith and discipline. Rather than being based on theory or knowledge, their wholehearted devotion and simple obedience to Divine will caused them to be noticed and chosen by God.
