"we can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark....."?

Question

"we can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of light."

Answer 1

Children are afraid of the dark because they don't know what is in the dark. They can't place a reality to deal with. So they run from it or cry until rescued. We forgive them because our society has a common acceptance of fear of the unknown.

On the flip side, is it as easy to forgive an adult who fears the light (reality), where they can easily see what they are up against and foretell the results? It is difficult to respect a person who runs from or requests rescue from something that is plain as day, even if we understand (thought we may not agree with) their justifications of doing so.

This could be religious as someone earlier stated, or it could apply to specifics...One of many possible examples:
The dark stain on US History of slavery. White slaveholders/traders saw the way things could/should have been (freedom for all), chose to fear the lifestyle changes that freedom would have brought, and many suffered the tragedy as a result of the usurpation of the white man's power to make that decision. Others that did not speak up or take a stand contributed just as much to the tragedy.
Great quote.

Answer 2

children are afraid of what they cant see in the dark. But when people are grown up, and are afraid to look at what the world really is, or at their own flaws (the light), it is a tragedy. If taken on a religious level, a tragedy that someone refuses to have faith.

Answer 3

True, but can you not forgive them?

Answer 4

Nice saying - but what's the question!!!