LEV700 The Two Facets of Ethics. All virtues have their counterparts. The opposite of love, humility, and generosity are hate, arrogance and miserliness. These represent the two extremes of human behavior. It is the function of moral instruction to promote the former and suppress the latter. The Psalmist summed it up in a single sentence: "Abstain from evil and do good." (Psalms 34:15). The biblical laws are divided into positive and negative injunctions. There are 248 positive injunctions and 365 negative injunctions. This division, though not in the same proportions, also appears in the Decalogue. The primary purpose of the negative injunctions is to protect society from the harmful acts of misguided individuals. Such behavior usually results from a normal response to bodily instincts. Cheating satisfies one's acquisitiveness. Overbearing conduct builds up one's ego. It is sad to reflect that many people are human but not necessarily humane. The aim of the positive injunctions is to ennoble man's character and to reflect its godliness. Over and above the protection of society, they seek to enhance the quality of life and distinctiveness of man. "Thou shall not kill" guarantees human security. "Honor thy father and thy mother" is the basis of human progress. The Psalmist wisely gives precedence to "abstain from evil." This is the initial step on the road toward excellence. Parental instructions to a young child are studded with more don'ts than do's. It is the latter, however, that have the potential for making man "a little lower than God." One cannot "do good" unless he first learns to "abstain from evil." Yet the individual who refrains from evil without supplementing it with affirmative social action is not truly an ethical person. He may be a harmless member of society, but he contributes little to the ethical level of the community. Biblical moral instructions address themselves to both extremes of human behavior. Thus man is admonished to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" [this verse]. This commandment is preceded by the injunction "Thou shall not hate thy brother in thy heart" (Leviticus 19:17). There is a need for addressing both of these human emotions. Love cannot be legislated nor conjured up with a magic wand. There are people who are incapable of love. The most they can do is to stop their predilection for hate. The same is true of many other moral precepts.