The Count of Monte Cristo would put it better: What a fool I was not to tear my heart out on the day when I resolved to avenge myself! Ah, but what dangerous business this is. This artificial hardening is a dangerous crossroads, a bargain with our primal forces that not everyone escapes or can emerge from with clean hands. William James knew that every man is ready to be savage in some cause. The distinction, he said, between good people and bad people is the choice of the cause.
The passage reflects on the perils of seeking revenge, as illustrated by a quote from "The Count of Monte Cristo." The narrator laments that choosing the path of vengeance leads to a loss of purity, suggesting that engaging in such a quest can compromise one's integrity. It highlights the internal conflict faced by those who turn to primal instincts in pursuit of their goals, implying that the choice to retaliate can lead to dangerous outcomes.
William James is referenced to emphasize that all individuals have the potential for savagery, with the main difference between good and bad people being the causes they champion. This idea frames revenge as a slippery slope, where the quest for justice may ultimately corrupt one's character. The overall message warns against the seductive allure of revenge and the moral complexities that accompany such decisions.
