Prompt #26: love, souls, power Prompt #26: "Any man who has the guts to sell his soul for love has the power to change the world."
But I cannot sell my soul. My soul is the ultimate internal principle by which I think, feel, and will, and by which my body is animated. To suppose that I could "sell" it - for any price, material or immaterial - would be to suppose that I could cease to become myself.
For love? For love of what? Or who?
Love is the third great cardinal virtue. "A divinely infused habit, inclining the human will to cherish God for His own sake above all things, and our fellow humans for the sake of God." O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.
I cannot sell my soul for love. My soul is the part of me that loves. It is not a question of not having the courage to do it - at least, I don't think it is: I've never pretended to be a brave man.
If I had the power to change the world -
Well, I do. We all do. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." But to sell my soul to do it would change me, not the world.