It often appears to us that, in general, we are initially well-disposed toward everyone in every situation, and that the way our attitude changes is determined by developing events. Thus, if our partner in a situation, our conversation partner, begins to disagree with us and argue, we begin to treat him worse, eventually reaching hatred. And if the partner is good toward us, then our goodwill toward him grows, reaching love...
It often appears to us that, in general, we are initially well-disposed toward everyone in every situation, and that the way our attitude changes is determined by developing events. Thus, if our partner in a situation, our conversation partner, begins to disagree with us and argue, we begin to treat him worse, eventually reaching hatred. And if the partner is good toward us, then our goodwill toward him grows, reaching love.
The aphorism we have read today turns everything completely the other way around. The source of how events develop is in our heart. If hatred for our conversation partner "sits" there, it will certainly break out in quarrels, in a break of relations. And if love lives in us, then we are ready to forgive the harshest and most unpleasant words and deeds, even not to notice sins. The beloved person is the dearest no matter what, while the hated person has no chance even for dialogue. And the matter is not in the situation, but in ourselves.
10 Here the Proverbs, properly so called, begin. They are short, but weighty sentences, most of which are two sentences in one verse, illustrating each other. But it is seldom there is any coherence between the verses, much less any thread of discourse.