Post by Tamrin on May 22, 2010 9:29:28 GMT 10
It is necessary that we first draw the distinction
between evil and ordinary sin. It is not their sins per
se that characterize evil people… The central defect of
the evil is not the sin but the refusal to acknowledge it
Unpleasant though it may be, the sense of personal
sin is precisely that which keeps our sin from getting
out of hand. It is quite painful at times, but it is a
very great blessing because it is our one and only
effective safeguard against our own proclivity for evil
While they seem to lack any motivation to be good,
they intensely desire to appear good. Their "goodness"
is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie.
That is why they are the "people of the lie". The
wickedness of the evil is not committed directly,
but indirectly as a part of this cover-up process
We become evil by attempting to hide from ourselves. Evil
originates not in the absence of guilt but in the effort to escape
it. The evil may be recognized by its very disguise. The lie can
be perceived before the misdeed it is designed to hide — the
cover-up before the fact. We see the smile that hides the hatred,
the smooth and oily manner that masks the fury, the velvet
glove that covers the fist. The disguise is usually impenetrable
The evil hate the light — the light of goodness that
shows them up, the light of scrutiny that exposes them,
the light of truth that penetrates their deception
Malignant narcissism is characterized by an unsubmitted
will. All adults who are mentally healthy submit themselves
one way or another to something higher than themselves,
be it God or truth or love or some other ideal… They believe
in what is true rather than what they would like to be true
In summary, to a greater or lesser degree, all mentally healthy
individuals submit themselves to the demands of their own
conscience. Not so the evil, however… They are men and women
of obviously strong will, determined to have their own way
Quotes from People of the Lie, by M. Scott Peck
(Born this day 1936
I know now that one of the characteristics of evil is its desire to confuse
between evil and ordinary sin. It is not their sins per
se that characterize evil people… The central defect of
the evil is not the sin but the refusal to acknowledge it
Unpleasant though it may be, the sense of personal
sin is precisely that which keeps our sin from getting
out of hand. It is quite painful at times, but it is a
very great blessing because it is our one and only
effective safeguard against our own proclivity for evil
While they seem to lack any motivation to be good,
they intensely desire to appear good. Their "goodness"
is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie.
That is why they are the "people of the lie". The
wickedness of the evil is not committed directly,
but indirectly as a part of this cover-up process
We become evil by attempting to hide from ourselves. Evil
originates not in the absence of guilt but in the effort to escape
it. The evil may be recognized by its very disguise. The lie can
be perceived before the misdeed it is designed to hide — the
cover-up before the fact. We see the smile that hides the hatred,
the smooth and oily manner that masks the fury, the velvet
glove that covers the fist. The disguise is usually impenetrable
The evil hate the light — the light of goodness that
shows them up, the light of scrutiny that exposes them,
the light of truth that penetrates their deception
Malignant narcissism is characterized by an unsubmitted
will. All adults who are mentally healthy submit themselves
one way or another to something higher than themselves,
be it God or truth or love or some other ideal… They believe
in what is true rather than what they would like to be true
In summary, to a greater or lesser degree, all mentally healthy
individuals submit themselves to the demands of their own
conscience. Not so the evil, however… They are men and women
of obviously strong will, determined to have their own way
Quotes from People of the Lie, by M. Scott Peck
(Born this day 1936
I know now that one of the characteristics of evil is its desire to confuse