A man is born into this world with only a tiny spark of goodness in him. The spark is God, it is the soul; the rest is ugliness and evil, a shell. The spark must be guarded like a treasure, it must be nurtured, it must be fanned into flame. It must learn to seek out other sparks, it must dominate the shell. Anything can be a shell, Reuven. Anything. Indifference, laziness, brutality, and genius. Yes, even a great mind can be a shell and choke the spark.
The quote from Chaim Potok's "The Chosen" reflects a profound perspective on human nature, suggesting that individuals are born with a fundamental goodness symbolized by a "spark," which represents the divine aspect of the soul. This innate goodness is fragile and requires protection and cultivation to thrive amidst the overwhelming presence of negativity and moral corruption in the world. The assertion underscores the importance of nurturing this spark to resist being...
