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The third element of the utterance under discussion is, "opposes his passions." How wonderful are the implications of this deceptively easy, all-inclusive phrase. This is the very foundation of every laudable human quality; indeed, these few words embody the light of the world, the impregnable basis of all the spiritual attributes of human beings. This is the balance wheel of all behavior, the means of keeping all man's good qualities in equilibrium.
For desire is a flame that has reduced to ashes uncounted
lifetime harvests of the learned, a devouring
fire that even the vast sea of their accumulated knowledge
could never quench. How often has it happened
that an individual who was graced with every attribute
of humanity and wore the jewel of true understanding,
nevertheless followed after his passions until his excellent
qualities passed beyond moderation and he was
forced into excess. His pure intentions changed to evil