Evil In Silk & Pearls

Albert Einstein said:

 "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

Leonardo Da Vinci said:

"He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done."

Pascal said:

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."

And Cicero said:

"The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil."

So if people, especially in a religious setting, watch the perpetration of evil and do nothing, do they lack wisdom or integrity to act?  Either way they are in spiritual poverty immune from Wisdom's call. 

But Martin Luther King said:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

I have pondered MLK's quotation many times to get through bitter times when I have seen evil win.  It helps me to remember that evil triumphant is still evil.  I don't care who dresses it in silk and pearls and takes it out for a thrill.  It is what it is, and if we have Wisdom we can recognize evil beneath the silk and pearls.  Proverbs describes Wisdom as the light of dawn growing ever brighter presenting a garland of grace and a crown of beauty.  I believe that MLK's words put the dilemma of evil triumphant in perspective.  Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the "final words in reality" and that the strength of right is seen in grace and beauty, qualities eternal and indestructible, world without end. 

Comments

[Chris Combs]

Regarding inactivity - Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Socialists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up for me.

[Jan Neal]

Yes, excellent...this is a wonderful quotation to remember every time one feels reluctant to "get involved." Thanks, Chris.

[Dawn Glascock]

Regarding Truth - I think Winston Churchill had a firm grasp on truth. "Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is."

[Jan Neal]

Oh, I do so love Winston Churchill..what a giant of a man and a thought that reminds me of Martin Luther King's. In the end, there it is...in the end it will have the final word in reality. Thanks for that, Dawn.