Two great quotes from Christian Recovery Forums at Spiritual Abuse Recovery Resources:

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under live robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” ~ C.S. Lewis

“Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm — but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.” ~ T.S.Eliot

This second one interests me particularly because I’ve been thinking lately about my tendency toward black-and-white thinking. Especially about narcissists. Of which there are currently several in my life. It is difficult to observe the damage they do and not reject them – no doubt an appropriate reaction to narcissists at a distance. Keep clear! But for those nearby? Eliot helps. They assert their superiority and control because they always need to feel better about themselves. So what they really need is love – how simple!

Yet how difficult…!