Inner Turmoil: The Inevitability of Broken Oaths
The violation of this oath demonstrates how human intentions often clash with actual actions when the influence of passions and external circumstances dilutes the original desire to keep a promise. As can be seen, even in the presence of high ideals and spiritual aspirations, inner contradictions and the influence of strong emotional states (for example, anger or envy) can lead a person to be forced to deviate from their words. This contradiction is reflected in the fact that despite the sincerity of one’s intentions, external pressures force one to break the oath, creating a conflict between inner conscience and the deeds carried out.For instance, one source states, “Violation of the cross-oath might have required participation in war, while conscience or the voice of the Church reminded one of the duty to preserve peace. In this conflict, the Russian conscience was hopelessly torn in two” (source: link txt). This underscores the presence of an irresolvable contradiction between the need to strictly follow orders and the moral impulses that dictate different behavior.It is also noted that “Regardless of one’s aspirations and efforts, the inevitable violation of the oath often occurs. Thus, whoever is driven by anger or a host of other passions inevitably breaks the oath” (source: link txt). This clearly indicates that even with the best intentions, a person is subject to the influence of internal passions, ultimately leading to a conflict between what was planned and what was executed.Thus, the breach of the oath illustrates that a deep internal conflict between moral principles and actual actions is an inevitable consequence of the influence of human passions and circumstances, forcing an individual to retreat from their noble intentions.