I allow that it is easier to touch the body of a saint, or…
““I allow that it is easier to touch the body of a saint, or to be magnetised, than to restrain our appetites or govern our passions; but health of body or mind can only be recovered by these means, or we make the Supreme Judge partial and revengeful. Is he a man that he should change, or punish out of resentment? He - the common father, wounds but to heal, says reason, and our irregularities producing certain consequences, we are forcibly shewn the nature of vice; that thus learning to know good from evil, by experience, we may hate one and love the other, in proportion to the wisdom which we attain. The poison contains the antidote; and we either reform our evil habits and cease to sin against our own bodies, to use the forcible language of scripture, or a premature death, the punishment of sin, snaps the thread of life.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human health and moral virtue require self‑discipline; external miracles cannot replace personal restraint and rational governance of passions.
In simple terms: Self‑control is essential for health and virtue.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate discipline over cravings.
Themes
self‑discipline
health
morality
reason
virtue
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal health management
- moral education
- spiritual practice
- habit reform
Key Concepts
Stoicism
ethical self‑regulation
philosophy of mind
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster environments that support personal restraint?
- What role does education play in shaping moral habits?
A Different Perspective
Self‑discipline alone may be insufficient without supportive community or systemic change.