be
in their order in submitting this particular will to the primary will
which
governs the whole body. Apart from that, they are in disorder and
mischief;
but in willing only the good of the body, they accomplish their own good.
476. We must love God only and hate self only.
If the foot had always been ignorant that it belonged to the body, and
that
there was a body on which it depended, if it had only had the knowledge
and
the love of self, and if it came to know that it belonged to a body on
which
it depended, what regret, what shame for its past life, for having been
useless to the body which inspired its life, which would have annihilated
it
if it had rejected it and separated it from itself, as it kept itself
apart
from the body! What prayers for its preservation in it! And with what
submission would it allow itself to be governed by the will which rules
the
body, even to consenting, if necessary, to be cut off, or it would lose
its
character as member! For every member must be quite willing to perish for
the body, for which alone the whole is.
477. It is false that we are worthy of the love of others; it is unfair
that
we should desire it. If we were born reasonable and impartial, knowing
ourselves and others, we should not give this bias to our will. However,
we
are born with it; therefore born unjust, for all tends to self. This is
contrary to all order. We must consider the general good; and the
propensity
to s
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