What does this quote mean?

Question

"Of the Good in you I can speak, but not of the Evil. For what is Evil but Good-tortured by its own hunger and thirst? When Good is hungry, it seeks food, even in dark caves, and when it thirsts, it drinks even of dead waters."

I love this quote, I just wish I knew what it meant and who quoted it.

btw, if you know a website with other awesome quotes like this, I'd like to know it! [:

Answer 1

This is from a poem by Khalil Gibran, Good and Evil XXII.

You have to think about this, really meditate on this, to get the meaning. My impression is that he is saying (like many mystics) that evil is a distortion of good desire. Desire (hunger and thirst) can lead us toward good or drive us toward evil, depending on the choices we make in the fulfillment of that desire.

Proverbs says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." -Proverbs 13:12.

Unfulfilled hope can fester in our soul and make us commit evil acts. Good or evil results manifest depending on the way we choose to satisfy our desires. We can satisfy our physical hunger in a good way by preparing a feast to share with friends, family and even strangers or beggars. This multiplies love and happiness for many people.

Or we can pig out alone, or steal from others to satisfy our desire in a selfish way. The choice for good or evil is ours. This may temporarily satisfy us, but ultimately bring pain to our conscience.

From Rumi (another mystic poet like Gibran):
"There are thousands of wines
That can overtake our minds.
Don't think all ecstasies are the same!
Jesus was lost in his love for God.
His donkey was drunk with barley.

Drink from the presence of saints,
Not from those other jars.

Every object, every being,
is a jar full of delight."

Rumi is saying that we can even choose our desires. What do we choose to think about, to dwell on? What do we choose to daydream about? Jesus's chose to fill his mind with God. What do you choose to think about?

Another favorite of mine from Rumi:
". . . You have read about the inspired spring.
Drink from there. Be companions with those
whose lips are wet with that water."

Chose your friends well. It is better to choose companions (like Rumi's friend Shams) who uplift you and bring out the best in your heart.

I like to think that Rumi's "inspired spring" refers to the Living Water in John 4:13-14 (Rumi scholars may dispute this, but it is my personal interpretation, as that is my "inspired spring".)

"Every one who drinks of this water [from the well] will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst; The water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

This is the wellspring of inspiration we feel from meditating on higher things. (See also Philippians 4:8)

Another aspect of good and evil is that what some intend for evil can be used by God to create a good outcome. A person who is a victim of a crime (such as child abuse) can choose to let hatred and resentment fester in their soul and poison their life. Or they can rise above their pain to be a force for love, compassion and forgiveness, bringing healing to others. Again, the choice is within you.

Answer 2

where did you even find this quote, anyways?



i'm not quite sure, but i'll take a shot at it:

i think it means something like "i can talk about how good u r, but not how bad u r. b/c bad is just good- good driven bad by it's own hunger & thirst. when good is hungry, it looks to fufill it's sense of hunger, even in bad places, and when it's thirsty, it will drink of bad water."

something like that. it's talking about how good is just evil. good is basically evil that turns out working for good.


i d k if that's reallly wat it means, but that's wat i took it as. hope that helps you :-D good luck, and god bless.

Answer 3

In this line, he suggests that our longing for vast goodness and love is so great that it becomes a tremendous burden upon us.