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

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ALLAN KARDEC
849. What is the dominant faculty of man in the savage state? Is it instinct or free-will?
"Instinct; which, however, does not prevent his acting with entire freedom in certain things;
but, like the child he uses his freedom for the satisfaction of his needs, and obtains its
development only through the development of his intelligence. Consequently, you, who are
more enlightened than the savage, are more blameable than a savage if you do wrong."
850. Does not social position sometimes place obstacles in the way of free action?
"Society has, undoubtedly, its exigencies. God is just, and takes everything into account; but
He will hold you responsible for any lack of effort on your part to surmount such obstacles."
Fatality.
851. Is there a fatality in the events of life, in the sense commonly attached to that word-that
is to say, are the events of life ordained beforehand, and, if so, what becomes of freewill?
"There is no other fatality than that which results from the determination of each spirit, on
incarnating himself, to undergo such and such trials. By choosing those trials he makes for
himself a sort of destiny which is the natural consequence of the situation in which he has
chosen to place himself. I speak now of physical trials only: for, as regards moral trials and
temptations, a spirit always preserves his freedom of choice between good and evil, and is
always able to yield or to resist. A good spirit, seeing (1 man hesitate, may come to his aid,
but cannot influence him to the extent of mastering his will. On the other hand, a bad spiritthat
is to say, a spirit of inferior advancement, may trouble or alarm him by suggesting
exaggerated apprehensions; but the will of the incarnated spirit retains, nevertheless, its entire
freedom of choice."
852. There are persons who seem to be pursued by a fatality independent of their own action.
Are not their misfortunes, in such cases, the result of predestination?
"They may be trials which those persons are compelled to undergo because they have been
chosen by them in the spirit-state; but you often set down to destiny what is only the consequence
of your own faults Try to keep a clear conscience, and you will be consoled for the
greater part of your afflictions.