Balance Quote by Elizabeth Gilbert
“The notion is that human beings are born, (as my Guru has explained many times,) with equivalent potential for both contraction and expansion. The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us, and then it's up to the individual (or the family, or the society) to decide what will be brought forth - the virtues or the malevolence. The madness of this planet is largely a result of human being's difficulty in coming into virtuous balance with himself. Lunacy (both collective and individual) results.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, 2006
Human beings contain equal capacity for good and evil; society shapes which emerges.
In simple terms: We have both light and dark inside; choices decide which shows.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate balance, choose virtue.
Themes
human nature
morality
choice
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- family dynamics
- social policy
- mental health
- education
Key Concepts
dualism
potential
balance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals nurture virtue amid negative influences?
- What societal changes support collective balance?
A Different Perspective
Balancing forces is complex, often hindered by systemic pressures.
![“And while [we] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives have the potential to breed their own brand of trouble. We are susceptible to emotional uncertainties and neuroses that are probably not very…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7fb/elizabeth-gilbert-131_choice_and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that_30637.jpg)
