I took the Myers-Briggs personality test* for the first time my freshman year of high school. Though I don’t recall any other specific questions, I do remember one. It was something along the lines of - Do you value mercy or justice? I remember because I thought it was a silly question. Justice clearly, because true justice will mean mercy isn’t needed. Though no justice system comes to mind where this is perfectly executed, in the abstract, mercy is built into justice.
It was surprising to me that this line of reasoning didn’t seem to be very widespread. And mercy or justice is a somewhat common personality question. But I was very pleased to learn that Wallace Stegner understands, or at least he made his characters from Angle of Repose share my sentiments even if he doesn’t personally agree with them.
Forgiving I have considered, though like my father and grandfather before me, I am a justice man, not a mercy man. I can’t help but feeling that if justice is observed, mercy is forever unnecessary.**
The statement is not meant to make the reader happy, but it had that effect on me. Finally, someone else had put into words what I had always thought myself. Sometimes it’s just nice to know you’re not completely alone in your theories.
*I’m ISTJ. I even took it again here, just to make sure, and definitely ISTJ. It really does describe me quite well.
**This is from page 443 of my copy. It was a good read, disheartening as it was. I think that contributed to its appeal actually. Thanks to Lisa for recommending it.
