Love vs Justice & Pride

Zen Denizen asked the following question in the comments to my post Enough Love:

Do you believe love is stronger than justice and pride?

At first, I thought that she was asking if one has to choose between love versus justice and pride, what should be chosen. Re-reading the question and understanding it in simpler terms, she might simply be asking if love is more resilient than justice and pride. Whatever she meant to ask, I thought the answer to both questions would be interesting. So, here goes.


What is stronger? Love? Or, justice and pride?

I will answer the simpler question first: It doesn't take much to break justice and pride. One lie, one dishonest act can kill justice. One failure, one humiliation, one moment of humbleness can break pride. But true love is not so easy to break or kill. Love can go through many tests, trials and tribulations, many rejections and failures, and still survive. In that sense, love is much stronger than justice and pride.


Love vs Justice

Being in a position where you have to choose between love and justice is especially tough. The classic example is that of a law enforcement officer who catches his much-loved child in a criminal act. Should the officer succumb to love and let his child off the hook? Or should he treat the child as he would treat any other unknown criminal?

Given that justice is so much more fragile - all it takes is one lie or one dishonest act to kill justice - than love, I'd say that justice should be chosen if there is ever a conflict between love and justice. There is another (more) important reason to preserve justice: true love cannot be built and sustained over a foundation of injustice and lies. Love needs a strong foundation of justice and truth. A love that is chosen at the cost of truth, is a weakened love. It won't survive for long.


Love vs Pride

Pride is like cholesterol - there is good pride and there is bad pride. Excessive pride, false pride or a pride based on the insecurity of a person, is a sure killer of love. Such pride can kill love like an especially vile parasite. Such pride saps the health out of a good relationship.

On the other hand, complete lack of pride results in a weak individual and an unhealthy relationship. Love cannot be sustained by a weak individual, in an unhealthy relationship. Healthy pride is a symptom of self-confidence and a sense of self-worth. It is the mark of a well-balanced and secure individual. The kind of individual who can provide and share a secure, nourishing, nurturing love.


Summary

It can be very difficult and trying when we find ourselves in a position where we have to choose between love and justice / pride. In such a stressful situation, it is all too easy to make a short-sighted choice which appears to be in favor of love. However, a wise choice, is the one which will sustain both love and justice / pride, in the long run. Beware of a choice which requires you to sacrifice one thing or the other. I hope the above answers help us all make wise choices.