05-06-2011, 01:28 PM
virtue is proven by what we don't do.
greatness is rare. for every ten people
who change how we think, build orphanages
or fight oppression, a million more
blow through their lives like leaves at the feet
of a film character. therefore in the absence of greatness
the best among us give by giving nothing bad.
every time we avoid doing something unspeakably evil
we give to the world.
every time we don't rape a woman down a dark alley,
murderer our spouses, molest a child, spread hatred
of a certain group, steal from our friends
and beat each other up, we are showing our virtue.
we contribute to the garden of life
by not pouring salt
in the window box we've been allotted.
greatness is rare. for every ten people
who change how we think, build orphanages
or fight oppression, a million more
blow through their lives like leaves at the feet
of a film character. therefore in the absence of greatness
the best among us give by giving nothing bad.
every time we avoid doing something unspeakably evil
we give to the world.
every time we don't rape a woman down a dark alley,
murderer our spouses, molest a child, spread hatred
of a certain group, steal from our friends
and beat each other up, we are showing our virtue.
we contribute to the garden of life
by not pouring salt
in the window box we've been allotted.
"We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges." - Gene Wolfe