Recently, I have been reading Plato's "The Republic" based on the recommendation of Teacher Luo Xiang, which has sparked some interest in me. I also hope that it will have a purifying effect on my soul and allow my restless inner self to quiet down.
However, the entire book has a touch of sophistry, so it still needs to be carefully discerned. One must not fall into the "traps" set within, just like in life, where one must analyze and understand things before blindly believing them. People are subjective, and everyone interprets the content they read differently.
When a person knows that they are about to die, there is a lingering panic and anxiety in their mind, fearing punishment in the afterlife for the wrongs committed in this life.
In the past, I found these words quite amusing, but now I can't help but feel that they may not be false. Thus, I feel puzzled and uneasy, often recalling whether I have harmed anyone before.
The reason why I only have such worries and concerns now is probably due to the mental decline that comes with old age, or perhaps it's because, like a drifting boat about to reach the shore, I can see things on the other side more clearly. If one realizes that they have committed grave sins, they may become excessively pessimistic and often wake up from their dreams in a state of extreme fear, just like a child.
But for those who have a clear conscience, the word "hope" is the guardian of their soul.
Justice is always relative.
I am glad that I have freed myself from what you call "romantic love." This liberation is like escaping from the sea of suffering under a tyrant's rule.
Upon reading this, all I want to say is, "Plato, you've misled me!" (facepalm)
If among the answers that you forbid, there is one that I believe to be correct, even if it is dangerous, I will still use it.
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If, beyond these options, I can provide a better and more just explanation, what would you say?
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I should accept the punishment of ignorance. Throughout history, those who come to knowledge later should learn from those who had knowledge earlier.
Learning is always an endless journey. If in the future, you discover errors in the knowledge you once possessed, there is no need to feel embarrassed or lost. You should humbly learn from them and transform them into your own thoughts and knowledge.
Anything great was never easy to achieve.
A person's determination can change due to the advice of others or be forgotten due to negligence. The former is shaken by external forces, while the latter is eroded by time.