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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
than for the things of intelligence, and, when they judge it to be useful to produce physical
manifestations, employ spirits of subaltern degree as their auxiliaries.
SECOND ORDER-GOOD SPIRITS
107. General Characteristics.-Predominance of spirit over matter; desire of excellence. Their
qualities and their power for good are proportionate to the degree at which they have arrived.
Some of them possess scientific knowledge, others have acquired wisdom and charity; the
more advanced among them combine knowledge with moral excellence. Not being yet
completely dematerialised, they preserve the traces of their corporeal existence, more or less
strongly marked, according to their rank-traces which are seen either in their mode of
expressing themselves, in their habits, or even, in some cases, in the characteristic
eccentricities and hobbies still retained by them. But for these weaknesses and imperfections
they would be able to pass into the category of spirits of the first order.
They have acquired the comprehension of the idea of God and of infinity, and already share
the felicity of the higher spheres. They find their happiness both in the accomplishment of
good and in the prevention of evil. The affection by which they are united affords them
ineffable delight, troubled neither by envy, remorse nor any other of the evil passions which
make the torment of spirits of lower degree; but they have still to undergo the discipline of
trial until they have completed the work of their purification.
As spirits, they infuse good and noble thoughts into the minds of men, turn them from the
path of evil, protect those whose course of life renders them worthy of their aid, and
neutralise by their suggestions, the influence of lower spirits on the minds of those who do
not willingly yield to the evil counsels of the latter.
The human beings in whom they are incarnated are upright and benevolent; they are actuated
neither by pride, selfishness, nor ambition; they feel neither hatred, rancour, envy, nor
jealousy, and do good for its own sake.
To this order belong the spirits commonly designated in the popular beliefs by the names of
good genie protecting genie, good spirits. In periods of ignorance and superstition, men have
regarded them as beneficent divinities.