אות - נו

You may think that you are removed from a particular major temptation, such as the desire for wealth. Still, you may be much worse off than someone else who is steeped in that desire, because you may be so deeply involved in another desire that it totally overshadows even the desire for riches. Having a desire that can completely overwhelm another desire surely makes you much worse off.

The desire in which you are involved may be less significant than the one you avoid. But still, you are worse off, since you have fallen so deeply into a worldly desire that you became oblivious to all others.

A stubborn infant can literally strike his head against the wall to spite his mother. There are some people who exhibit the same stubbornness and lack of self-control. They give up everything because of some stubborn, overpowering desire.