Good and Evil

2 min

And one of the elders of the city said, Speak to us of Good and Evil.

One of the city's elders said, Tell us about Good and Evil.

And he answered:

Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.

I can speak of the good in you, but not the evil.

For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?

For what is evil but good tormented by its own hunger and thirst?

Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts it drinks even of dead waters.

When goodness is hungry, it seeks food even in dark caves. And when it is thirsty, it drinks even from dead waters.

You are good when you are one with yourself.

You are good when you are at one with yourself.

Yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.

But when you are not at one with yourself, you are not evil.

For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.

A divided house is not a den of thieves. It is only a divided house.

And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom. You are good when you strive to give of yourself.

And a ship without a rudder may drift aimlessly among dangerous islands, yet not sink. You are good when you try to give of yourself.

Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.

Yet you are not evil when you seek to benefit yourself.

For when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.

For when you strive for gain, you are only a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.

Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, “Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance.”

Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, “Be like me, ripe and full, always giving from your abundance.”

For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.

For the fruit needs to give, just as the root needs to receive.

You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,

You are good when you are fully aware of what you say,

Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.

But you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue wanders aimlessly.

And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.

And even hesitant speech may strengthen a weak tongue.

You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.

You are good when you walk toward your goal with firm, bold steps.

Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping. Even those who limp go not backward.

Yet you are not evil when you limp on your way there. Even those who limp do not go backward.

But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.

But you who are strong and swift, do not limp in front of those who cannot walk easily, thinking it is kind.

You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,

You are good in countless ways. And you are not evil when you are not good,

You are only loitering and sluggard.

You are only wasting time and being lazy.

Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.

It's a pity that stags can't teach turtles to be swift.

In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.

Your goodness lies in your longing for your greater self, and that longing is in all of you.

But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.

But in some of you, that longing is a powerful stream rushing to the sea. It carries the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.

And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.

And in others, it is a flat stream that loses itself in twists and bends, lingering before it reaches the shore.

But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, “Wherefore are you slow and halting?”

But let the one who longs much not say to the one who longs little, “Why are you slow and hesitant?”

For the truly good ask not the naked, “Where is your garment?” nor the houseless, “What has befallen your house?”

For truly good people do not ask those without clothes, “Where are your clothes?” or those without a home, “What happened to your home?”