Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
213. Since spirits incarnate themselves in twins from sympathy whence comes the aversion
that is sometimes felt by twins for one another?
"It is not a rule that only sympathetic spirits are incarnated as twins. Bad spirits may have
been brought into this relation by their desire to struggle against each other on the stage of
corporeal life."
214. In what way should we interpret the stories of children fighting in their mother's womb?
"As a figurative representation of their hatred to one another, which, to indicate its inveteracy,
is made to date from before their birth. You rarely make sufficient allowance for the
figurative and poetic element in certain statements."
215. What is the cause of the distinctive character which we observe in each people?
"Spirits constitute different families, formed by the similarity of their tendencies, which are
more or less purified according to their elevation. Each people is a great family formed by the
assembling together of sympathetic spirits. The tendency of the members of these families to
unite together is the source of the resemblance which constitutes the distinctive character of
each people. Do you suppose that good and benevolent spirits would seek to incarnate
themselves among a rude and brutal people ? No; spirits sympathise with masses of men as
they sympathise with individuals. They go to the region of the earth with which they are most
in harmony."
216. Does a spirit, in his new existence, retain any traces of the moral character of his
former existences?
"Yes, he may do so; but, as he improves, he changes. His social position, also, may be greatly
changed in his successive lives. If, having been a master in one existence, he becomes a slave
in another, his tastes will be altogether different, and it would be difficult for you to recognise
him. A spirit being the same in his various incarnations, there may be certain analogies
between the manifestations of character in his successive lives; but these manifestations will,
nevertheless, be modified by the change of conditions and habits incident to each of his new
corporeal existences, until, through the ameliorations thus gradually effected, his character
has been completely changed, he who was proud and cruel becoming humble and humane
through repentance and effort."