Inner Harmony is Outer Harmony
Justice — truth — is not concerned with the outward nature of a person, but with the inward. It is this inner nature that is a human’s true self. The three principles that make up our inner nature are courage, wisdom, and restraint. A just human does not allow these three elements of their inner nature interfere with each other, or allow any one of them to be manipulated by others.
This just and sound person sets their own inner life in order, becomes the master of their own law, and becomes at peace with themselves. When these three natural principles become tied together and finely-tuned like the higher, middle, and lower notes of a musical scale, our natures become a perfectly adjusted harmony that creates beautiful action in life.
When we arrive at this complete place inside ourselves and have to act or perform in regards to property, in the treatment of body, or in some public matter of politics or in private business, we act harmoniously in accordance with wisdom.
When a person, situation, or condition impairs this balance, we will call this unjust action. Furthermore, the opinion that presides over this unjust action will be termed ignorance.
It is ignorance that takes up our energy and exhausts our spirit due to its inability to reciprocate.
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Human sight is limited. It is our inability to measure time and distance — and our limited vision of the future — that makes us act towards ignorance instead of knowledge; and seek pleasure instead of pain; or give up instead of enduring trials. It is much easier to keep going when we can see the end but when there is no end in sight enduring feels endless and impossible. Remember, only those that push, endure, and keep going, can know the ultimate pleasure in surviving pain, and eventually thriving in any situation.
The alternative to enduring is giving up, and giving up should never be an option.
Inspired by Socrates’ definition of justice.