Nihil Versus. Omnia Licita.

In the Latin, the title signifies the motto of the Hashshashin: "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." As young children, we act as if there was nothing in our way. As we grow older, however, we learn that the world is an imperfect one, and the trappings of youth have no place in it. We learn that there are rules to obey, restrictions to observe, and bans to enforce. While they are in place for our own benefit, is it a sin to question those that seem to be without reason? Is it right to enforce a law that infringes on the situation that is reality? Is it moral to support the unjust law, which St. Augustine of Hippo said was no law?

I for one am someone who still puts value on law and order, and though I am but a human and therefore imperfect, it is only right to be on the side of order -- after all, how can we progress if chaos is the norm of our society? However, when the system itself prevents one from accomplishing anything, is it not fair if he must operate outside it? What has he left to lose?

Few things are absolute in life. Reality, the conflict between order and chaos, between reason and ignorance, between faith and unbelief, between right and wrong... I can go no further, lest I go out of my depth. Perhaps at the end of the illusions, we realize that even reality becomes irrelevant. Why? Because at the end of it all, quoting Hassan-i Sabbah, "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." While morality remains absolute, it is only fair for us to have our minds. After all, what is morality without free will?