No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.
Which of the following options can be BEST concluded from the passage?
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Philosophical RCs often test abstract reasoning — the best conclusion is usually the one that generalizes the passage’s main analogy (temptation = test of belief).
Unless we are put to test for our beliefs, we do not know what our true beliefs are.
To claim to know anything we must apply it in a situation and then judge ourselves.
Most of the population does not know what being bad or being good actually is.
To claim to be good people, we should know what temptation means.
How we label ourselves depends entirely on how much we have fought for that label.
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The Correct Option isA
Solution and Explanation
Phase 1: Passage Analysis The passage posits that the sole method for comprehending the potency of temptation is through resistance. Individuals who succumb readily fail to grasp the true nature of the struggle, and consequently, lack a genuine understanding of virtue or vice. Phase 2: Option Evaluation - Option A: This option is a precise match. True knowledge of one's convictions or character is acquired solely through the trial of resistance. - Option B: This option is excessively general and lacks specificity. The passage's central theme is the act of resisting temptation, not the acquisition of all knowledge. - Option C: This option is an overstatement. The passage does not generalize about the majority of people but specifically addresses those who yield to temptation. - Option D: This option holds partial validity but is too narrow. The passage's ultimate point concerns the testing of beliefs, not merely the recognition of temptation. - Option E: This option is thought-provoking but lacks exactitude. The primary emphasis is on testing one's beliefs, not on self-labeling. Phase 3: Optimal Conclusion Option A most effectively encapsulates the core message of the passage. Conclusion: \[\boxed{\text{A}}\]