October 17, 2021
Dear Editor,
With all that’s happening; and with those in/vying for political/regime power and/or positions of influence in today’s – as always, complex – world, what seems most apt are the words of 18th century French soldier, writer and moralist Marquis de Vauvenargues:
“We are very wrong to think that some fault or other excludes virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as a monstrosity or an enigma.”
Howard Hutchins
Victoria, Australia
not quite following the nuances in his statement. Yes, virtue, a bad person can have good qualities or do good things. It is the juxaposition of monstrosity and enigma is confusing. There can be many different motivations hidden inside an enigma. Maybe that is his point?
Another way of stating this may be from the Tao: Evil can come from good, good can come from evil. It is the ultimate in the law of unintended consequences.