Those who know me will attest to the fact that if there is any credo to which I have lived my life it is this:

One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him.

—Socrates

Returning an injury for an injury, or “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” as the ancient Mesopotamian Hammurabi’s Code is often paraphrased is a weak and cowardly form of justice. It ignores the power of love, compassion, and forgiveness and it justifies and codifies taking the low road.

When you strike back at injustice you are lowered to the level of your attacker. When you strike back the injury is doubled.

Love’s command is absolute. You cannot profess to be governed by love and act on the commandment of love occasionally.

It is an all or nothing affair.

Photo by Alison Courtney on Unsplash