For a person specialised in psychology it is clear how little in life gets done by simply preaching morals. Morality must flow into human nature as a force. If we save the trouble of bringing sermons about beautiful principles and only bring the doctrine of karma as a living force into the human soul, as a kind of nourishment for the soul, then it may be that this doctrine is at first accepted out of self-interest, but at the same time forces in the soul are awakened so that subsequently from out of this egotism, unselfish acts that have their origin in compassion can be developed.
Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 69a – Wahrheiten und Irrtümer der Geistesforschung/ Geisteswissenschaft und Menschenzukunft – Prague, March 25, 1911 (page 94)
Translated by Nesta Carsten-Krüger
Previously posted on December 14, 2017
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