The worst vengeance

Abstract

n classical philosophy as well as patristic thought, the human passions presented a moral but inevitably
also an ontological, or else physiological, dilemma. The dynamic of human freedom, the drama of human, is
precisely the right orientation of the innate human affections. Benefiting our enemy is the ‘worst
vengeance’ we can give him; this is an old story that remains contemporary and beneficial for either our
soul or our spiritual life in the ethical mode of being. We analysed the potential role of benefiting the enemy
though from the Christian point of view. Throughout historical references, either clearly or indirectly, this
study also attempted to formulate evaluations as to the depth of philosophical and theological thought. The
strength of this work may be epitomized in the following remark: that love, through the actual forgiveness,
is the supreme virtue in which a person finds the true meaning of his existence