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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
the observance of the law of God. Man acts rightly when he takes the good of all as his aim
and rule of action; for he then obeys the law of God."
630. How can we distinguish between good and evil?
"Good is whatever is in conformity with the law of God; and evil is whatever deviates from
it. Thus, to do right, is to conform to the law of God; to do wrong, is to infringe that law."
631. Has man of himself the means of distinguishing what is good from what is evil?
"Yes, when he believes in God, and desires to do what is right. God has given him
intelligence in order that he may distinguish between them."
632. As man is subject to error may he not be mistaken in his appreciation of good and evil,
and believe himself to be doing right, when, in reality, he is doing wrong?
"Jesus has said: 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them.'
The whole moral law is contained in that injunction. Make it your rule of action, and you will
never go wrong."
633. The rule of good and evil, what may be called the rule of reciprocity or solidarity,
cannot be applied to a man's to personal conduct towards himself. Does he find, in natural
law, the rule of that conduct, and a safe guide?
"When you eat too much, it hurts you. God gives you, in the discomfort thus produced, the
measure of what is necessary for you. When you exceed that measure, you are punished. It is
the same with everything else. Natural law traces out for each man the limit of his needs:
when he oversteps that limit he is punished by the suffering thus caused. If men gave heed, in
all things, to the voice which says to them 'enough!' they would avoid the greater part of the
ills of which they accuse nature."
634. Why does evil exist in the nature of things? I speak of moral evil. Could not God have
created the human race in more favourable conditions?
"We have already told you that spirits are created simple and ignorant (115). God leaves man
free to choose his road; so much the worse for him if he takes the wrong one; his pilgrimage
will be all the longer. If there were no mountains, man could not comprehend the possibility
of ascending and descending; if there