"Why Men Sin"
This is the second and concluding paragraph in Chapter 5, entitled "Why Men Sin", of Book 2 from The Confessions of Saint Augustine. This excerpt is slightly out of context, but any difficulty in digesting the material is simply due to his dissonant style. Note that this was written about 1500 years ago. I found it rather interesting, maybe others may as well.
"When there is discussion concerning a crime and why it was committed, it is usually held that there appeared posibility that the appetites would obtain some of these goods, which we have termed lower, or there was fear of losing them. These things are beautiful and fitting, but in comparison with the higher goods, which bring happiness, they are mean and base. A man commits murder: why did he do so? He coveted his victim's wife or his property; or he wanted to rob him to get money to live on; or he feared to be deprived of some such thing by the other; or he had been injured, and burned for revenge. Would anyone commit murder without reason and out of delight in murder itself? Who can believe such a thing? Of a certain senseless and utterly cruel man it was said that he was evil and cruel without reason. Nevertheless, a reason has been given, for he himself said, "I don't want to let my hand or will get out of practice through disuse." Why did he want that? Why so? It was to the end that after he had seized the city by the practice of crime, he would attain to honors, power, and wealth or from a guilty conscience. Therefore, not even Catiline himself loved his crimes, but something else, for sake of which he committed them."
Pretty cool, yeah? I getting through this book very slowly, for a lot of it is rather difficult to digest--not one of those "easy-to-read-while-on-the-trolley" type of books. Though, every so often I come across so very insightful reasonings and perspectives. Maybe I will get something else up here that I like.
"When there is discussion concerning a crime and why it was committed, it is usually held that there appeared posibility that the appetites would obtain some of these goods, which we have termed lower, or there was fear of losing them. These things are beautiful and fitting, but in comparison with the higher goods, which bring happiness, they are mean and base. A man commits murder: why did he do so? He coveted his victim's wife or his property; or he wanted to rob him to get money to live on; or he feared to be deprived of some such thing by the other; or he had been injured, and burned for revenge. Would anyone commit murder without reason and out of delight in murder itself? Who can believe such a thing? Of a certain senseless and utterly cruel man it was said that he was evil and cruel without reason. Nevertheless, a reason has been given, for he himself said, "I don't want to let my hand or will get out of practice through disuse." Why did he want that? Why so? It was to the end that after he had seized the city by the practice of crime, he would attain to honors, power, and wealth or from a guilty conscience. Therefore, not even Catiline himself loved his crimes, but something else, for sake of which he committed them."
Pretty cool, yeah? I getting through this book very slowly, for a lot of it is rather difficult to digest--not one of those "easy-to-read-while-on-the-trolley" type of books. Though, every so often I come across so very insightful reasonings and perspectives. Maybe I will get something else up here that I like.