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

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ALLAN KARDEC
on the contrary, when rightly understood, causes you to look at everything from a point of
view so elevated that the sentiment of personality is lost, so to say, in the contemplation of
immensity. In destroying the sentiment of self-importance, by showing its real nature,
Spiritism necessarily combats selfishness.
"Man is often rendered selfish by his experience of the selfishness of others, which makes
him feel the need of defending himself against them. Seeing that others think of themselves
and not of him, he is led to think of himself rather than of others. But let the principle of
charity and fraternity become the basis of social institutions, of the legal relations between
nation and nation and between man and man, and each individual will think less of his own
personal interests, because he will see that these have been thought of by others; he will
experience the moralising influence of example and of contact. Amidst the present overflow
of selfishness, much virtue is needed to enable a man to sacrifice his own interests for the
sake of others, who often feel but little gratitude for such abnegation; but it is above all to
those who possess this virtue that the Kingdom of Heaven is opened, and the happiness of the
elect assured: while, at the day of judgement, whoever has thought only of himself will be set
aside, and left to suffer from his loneliness." (785.) (FÉNÉLON.)
Laudable efforts are made to help forward the progress of the human race; the generous sentiments are
encouraged, stimulated, honoured, more than has been the case at any former epoch, and yet the
devouring worm of selfishness is still the pest and torment of society. It is a social disease that affects
every one, and of which every one is more or less the victim it should therefore be combated as we combat
any other epidemic. To this end we must proceed as does the physician, and begin by tracing the malady
to its source. We should seek out, in every department of the social fabric, from the relationships of the
family to those of nations, from the cottage to the palace, all the causes, all the influences, patent or secret,
that maintain and develop selfishness The causes of the malady being discovered, the remedy Will
spontaneously present itself, and through the efforts of all, directed to a common end, the virus will
gradually be extirpated. The cure may be slow, for the causes of the malady are many, but it is not
impossible. It can only be effected, however, by going to the root of the evil, that is to say, by generalising
education ; not the education which merely advances men in knowledge, but that witch improves them
morally. Education, rightly understood, is the key of moral progress, when the art of training the moral
nature shall be understood as is the art of training the intellect, it will be possible to straighten a crooked
nature as we straighten a crooked sapling. But this art demands much tact, much experience, and
profound observation; it Is a great mistake to suppose that the possession of scientific knowledge suffices
to enable the teacher to exercise it with success. whoever observes the life of a child, whether rich or poor,
and notes all the pernicious influences that act upon its weakness from the moment of its birth, the
ignorance and negligence of those who have charge of it, and the mischievous tendency of many of the
means employed with a view to moralise it, will not wonder that the world should be so full if crooked
sticks. But let the same skill and care be given to the training of the moral nature as to that of the
intellect, and it will be seen that, even should some natures