"It is noble to avenge oneself on one’s enemies and not to come to terms with them, for requital is just, and the just is noble, and not to surrender is a sign of courage."
Yeah that was the one line I doubted the truth of. It is certainly not always true, in times like these, it is obvious how it sometimes helpful for the community and thus noble.
Yes indeed it was also a surprise to me to see vengeance presented as a positive.
There's a vast difference between exacting vengeance over evil or over something petty you should just get over and turn the other cheek. That's why I find it strange to put it into a basic rule that vengeance itself is noble when obviously it is not. These are human traits that I'm sure have always been there, it was surely also valid then
"It is noble to avenge oneself on one’s enemies and not to come to terms with them, for requital is just, and the just is noble, and not to surrender is a sign of courage."
Yeah that was the one line I doubted the truth of. It is certainly not always true, in times like these, it is obvious how it sometimes helpful for the community and thus noble.
Yes. Looked at from a modern Christian perspective it is hard to reconcile with "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay" - no doubt.
But even the New Testament tells us that the King does not bear a sword for nothing, but to be a terror to evil.
Looked at from a civic governance perspective and not a personal religious ideals perspective it is fully compatible with the Gospel.
I didn't quote it out of doubt over its veracity but just because it struck me as a striking formulation which I had not seen before.
Yes indeed it was also a surprise to me to see vengeance presented as a positive.
There's a vast difference between exacting vengeance over evil or over something petty you should just get over and turn the other cheek. That's why I find it strange to put it into a basic rule that vengeance itself is noble when obviously it is not. These are human traits that I'm sure have always been there, it was surely also valid then