You must strive to diagnose your own

character and discover the faults that are

infesting it; do not try to analyse the
character of others and seek to spot their
defects. Life is a campaign against foes; it
is a battle with obstacles, temptations,
hardships and hesitations. These forces
are within every individual and so the
battle has to be incessant and perpetual.
Like the virus that thrives in the
bloodstream, the vices of lust, greed,
hate, malice, pride and envy sap the
energy and faith, and lead one to
untimely fall. Ravana had great
scholarship, wealth, power, authority,
even the Grace of God but the viruses
of lust and pride lodged in his mind
brought about his complete destruction.
He could not dwell in peace and joy, even
for a moment, after these viruses began
their job. Remember, virtue is strength
and vice is weakness.
(Divine Discourse, 16 Mar 1966) SSSB