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The Principle of Action and Reaction
"When you force something towards and end, you produce the contrary ."
This principle explains that people and things have their own behaviors and that they will facilitate or hinder our projects according to how we act. When, moved by irrational impulses we force something against its own behavior, we may find that this person or thing yields before our demands. However, in the short or long run, the consequences of this forcing will be such that results contrary to those that we wanted to achieve will arise.
The human being sets limits, defines directions for things, tends to make plans and carry out projects. That is, the human being moves towards goals. But questions remain: How do we move toward these goals? How do we make another person understand the solution to a problem that arises – through violence or persuasion? If we use violence, sooner or later there will be a reaction. But if we use persuasion, sooner or later our strengths will join together.
Many think that "the ends justify the means" and they work by forcing everything around them. And quite often they achieve successful short-term results. The problems arise later. The goal has been achieved, but they will not be able to hold onto it for very long.
The Principle that we are commenting upon refers to two different situations. In one situation, the goal that we sought is achieved, but the consequences are the opposite of what we had expected. In the other situation, because we force something, we get only a negative "rebound" of our action.
Back to the Principles of Valid Action