Prune the Diseased Parts

Prune your diseased parts so you can bear good fruits.

Assume everyone is diseased?

If we assume that most people are diseased—imperfect, wounded, misled—which, in some sense, we all are, then maybe it’s best not to let others infect your spirit. Don’t let the sickness of another drag you down. Don’t absorb their rot.

We, as philosophers, are like spiritual doctors. But before we can heal others, we must heal ourselves.

That means turning inward.
Facing the shadow.
Cutting away the dead and diseased parts of ourselves.

And once we’ve done that—once we’ve been through the fire and come out cleaner, sharper, lighter—we can go out into the world and offer something good. Something nourishing. Something fruitful.

Heal yourself. Bear good fruit.