An evil thing must live with its evil until it chooses to be good.
 George MacDonald, Lilith (1895). copy citation

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Author George MacDonald
Source Lilith
Topic evil living
Date 1895
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1640/1640-h/1640-h.htm

Context

““—with that terrible wound!” “Nothing will ever close that wound,” he answered, with a sigh. “It must eat into her heart! Annihilation itself is no death to evil. Only good where evil was, is evil dead. An evil thing must live with its evil until it chooses to be good. That alone is the slaying of evil.” I held my peace until a sound I did not understand overtook us. “If she should break loose!” I cried. “Make haste!” he rejoined. “I shall hurry down the moment you are gone, and I have disarranged the mirrors.”” source