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Ruiz uses the metaphor of a computer virus to represent gossip, by which he means negative talk about other people. Ruiz argues that when somebody talks negatively about another person, they make others see that person in a negative light, which makes others more likely to talk negatively about that person as well. Gossip, therefore, spreads like a computer virus: negative talk warps the way people perceive others, much like the way a computer virus takes control of a computer and changes what the computer user sees. The computer is therefore analogous to a person’s mind, while the computer virus is analogous to the negative talk that clouds their perception of others.
Computer virus Quotes in The Four Agreements
The The Four Agreements quotes below all refer to the symbol of Computer virus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2. The First Agreement
Quotes
When we see the world through a computer virus, it is easy to justify the cruelest behavior.
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Computer virus Symbol Timeline in The Four Agreements
The timeline below shows where the symbol Computer virus appears in The Four Agreements. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2. The First Agreement: Be Impeccable with Your Word
...magic” is gossip. If the human mind is like a computer, then gossip is a computer virus that warps the way the computer functions. Ruiz says to imagine that you’re excited about...
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