The Burden of Integrity

Integrity is a hardship for the morally corrupt, by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD)

"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct,

not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled.

To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes

hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to

those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for

those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable

to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice