The wicked are filled with regrets (Shevat Mussar #25; cf. Nedarim 9b), but they never really know what regret is. Any sorrow they may feel results only in their strengthening their wickedness. As soon as a thought of remorse enters their minds, they fight it by making themselves more determined in their evil.
It is like two men fighting. As soon as one begins to win, the other fights all the harder. As soon as evil detects that good is beginning to stir in a person, it fights extra hard. Understand this (see Sichot VeSipurim, p. 78).
This is an important principle in serving God. The more you want to serve God, the more the Evil One strives against you (Likutey Moharan I, 72). If you realize this, you can fight him with strategy (Proverbs 20:18, 24:6) and continually defeat him. With God’s help, you will be worthy of emerging victorious.
הָרְשָׁעִים הֵם מְלֵאִים חֲרָטוֹת, וְהֵם אֵינָם יוֹדְעִים כְּלָל מַהוּ חֲרָטָה. כִּי זֶהוּ בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁהֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים בְּעִנְיַן רִשְׁעָתָם, זֶהוּ בְּעַצְמוֹ חֲרָטָה. כִּי מֵחֲמַת שֶׁבָּא בְּדַעְתָּם חֲרָטוֹת, עַל־כֵּן הֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים בְּיוֹתֵר בְּרִשְׁעָתָם.
The wicked are filled with regrets (Shevat Mussar #25; cf. Nedarim 9b), but they never really know what regret is. Any sorrow they may feel results only in their strengthening their wickedness. As soon as a thought of remorse enters their minds, they fight it by making themselves more determined in their evil.
כְּמוֹ שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁנִּלְחָמִים זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה, שֶׁכְּשֶׁאֶחָד רוֹאֶה שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ מִתְגַּבֵּר נֶגְדּוֹ, אֲזַי הוּא מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּיוֹתֵר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ. כְּמוֹ כֵן מַמָּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהָרָע רוֹאֶה שֶׁמַּתְחִיל אֵיזֶה טוֹב לְהִתְעוֹרֵר אֶצְלָם, אֲזַי הוּא מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּיוֹתֵר. וְהָבֵן.
It is like two men fighting. As soon as one begins to win, the other fights all the harder. As soon as evil detects that good is beginning to stir in a person, it fights extra hard. Understand this (see Sichot VeSipurim, p. 78).
וְזֶהוּ כְּלָל גָּדוֹל בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה', אֲפִלּוּ לִשְׁאָר בְּנֵי־אָדָם, לְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי עֶרְכּוֹ, שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁרוֹצֶה יוֹתֵר לִכָּנֵס בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' – מִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו הַבַּעַל דָּבָר בְּיוֹתֵר. (וּכְבָר מְבֹאָר מִזֶּה בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר). וְצָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת מַשְׂכִּיל עַל דָּבָר זֶה וּבְתַחְבּוּלוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה מִלְחָמָה – לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הָרָע בְּהִתְגַּבְּרוּת גָּדוֹל בְּכָל פַּעַם. אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לְנַצֵּחַ הַמִּלְחָמָה.
This is an important principle in serving God. The more you want to serve God, the more the Evil One strives against you (Likutey Moharan I, 72). If you realize this, you can fight him with strategy (Proverbs 20:18, 24:6) and continually defeat him. With God’s help, you will be worthy of emerging victorious.