There is no sort of wrong deed of which a man can bear the…
““There is no sort of wrong deed of which a man can bear the punishment alone: you can't isolate yourself, and say that the evil which is in you shall not spread. Men's lives are as thoroughly blended with each other as the air they breathe: evil spreads as necessarily as disease. I know, I feel the terrible extent of suffering this sin of Arthur's has caused to others; but so does every sin cause suffering to others besides those who commit it. An act of vengeance on your part against Arthur would simply be another evil added to those we are suffering under: you could not bear the punishment alone; you would entail the worst sorrows on every one who loves you. You would have committed an act of blind fury, that would leave all the present evils just as they were, and add worse evils to them. You may tell me that you meditate no fatal act of vengeance: but the feeling in your mind is what gives birth to such actions, and as long as you indulge it, as long as you do not see that to fix your mind on Arthur's punishment is revenge, and not justice, you are in danger of being led on to the commission of some great wrong.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Highlights communal responsibility for wrongdoing, warning that vengeance spreads suffering and blurs justice
In simple terms: Evil spreads like disease; personal vengeance harms all involved
Key Takeaway
Consider collective impact before seeking revenge
Themes
ethics
justice
community
revenge
sin
responsibility
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family conflict
- legal dispute
- social injustice
- personal grievance
Key Concepts
philosophy
social dynamics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives exist to break the cycle of harm?
- How can forgiveness restore balance?
A Different Perspective
Revenge may feel satisfying but often escalates harm