אות - י

The wicked are filled with regrets ( Shevat Mussar #25; cf. Nedarim 9b) , but they never really know what regret is. Any sorrow they may feel results only in their strengthening their wickedness. As soon as a thought of remorse enters their minds, they fight it by making themselves more determined in their evil.

It is like two men fighting. As soon as one begins to win, the other fights all the harder. As soon as evil detects that good is beginning to stir in a person, it fights extra hard. Understand this (see Sichot VeSipurim , p. 78) .

This is an important principle in serving God. The more you want to serve God, the more the Evil One strives against you ( Likutey Moharan I, 72) . If you realize this, you can fight him with strategy (Proverbs 20:18, 24:6) and continually defeat him. With God’s help, you will be worthy of emerging victorious.