Quote by Emanuel Swedenborg: “All evils derive their origin from the love of self and the love of the world.”

Swedenborg argues that selfishness and an excessive attachment to worldly possessions are the roots of all wrongdoing. He suggests that focusing too much on personal gain leads to moral decay.

This concept, articulated in his 'Arcana Coelestia,' reflects Swedenborg's deep ethical concerns. He believed that spiritual health depended on overcoming self-centered desires and material attachments, a common theme in mystical traditions but presented with his unique theological framework.

Swedish scientist, philosopher, and mystic whose later spiritual writings, including Heaven and Hell, had enormous influence on Romanticism and later on figures including William Blake and Balzac. He worked earlier as a respected natural philosopher before devoting himself to theological exploration.