Independence

A man has no right to do wrong. His right is to do and think right. Independence consists in his liberty and right to do right. The misconstruction of the word independence is the offspring of malicious animal magnetism. Beware of defending your right to do wrong, and be strong to defend yourself against the right to do evil.

Man’s right is his power and privilege to act independently of evil suggestions or motives, and he has neither right nor liberty to do wrong. Neither divine law nor human law recognizes the right of man to sin, to steal, to commit adultery, to murder; and to do these things no more means independence than no means yes, or good means evil. So long as he exercises this mistaken sense of right, he will wrong himself and others, heap up wrath against the day of wrath, and bring upon himself punishment according to his deeds.