Anger from Being Right and Virtuous - (217)

The anger to do with being portrayed as NOT right and or NOT virtuous can be intense.

This is often called the anger of righteousness. 

Because anger is involved it si mechanical.

Mechanical righteousness is when assume we are correct or virtuous. Often this assumption is something of an error that brings anger to defend and convince others that we are right or virtuous.

As often is the case, anger gets it wrong and misses the point totally.

The point about being right and virtuous, is that it is not virtuous or right to get angry and coerce others into believing that we are right or virtuous (kind caring, honest etc.).

The thing that anger misses is that being right and virtuous all resides in looking intensely as to where we could be wrong and where we could be lacking virtue. This is precisely where being right and virtuous live within us - that is to correct where we are wrong and lacking virtue.

We never have to defend or convince others about what we have - it simply appears for all to see. We often use anger (force without reason or truth) to try and convince of others about what we don't have.

Our conscious balance in relation to being right and virtuous is to be looking more for where we may be wrong or lacking in virtue.

It is this same righteousness in us that can not stand others speaking about virtues and leaves the class room in disdain.

This mechanical righteousness becomes cynical and skeptical of others who speak about virtues or act with some virtue. 

This mechanical righteousness always believes the virtues in others to be false and it also finds satisfaction in exposing the limits of the virtues in others.

End (217).