I believe the additional context, that is often not included in quotes, helps a bit here.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster"
Essentially, the 2nd phrase is emphasizing the prior, in that whatever you focus your attention on often results in you being captured by that same thing. We sometimes become the things we fear. Something of the abyss has now become part of us.
It could also be described as the type of thinking where the ends justify the means. When you do evil actions to destroy some evil. The fear of that evil changed you until you were willing to become evil to combat it.
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Thank you! Glad you found it valuable and nice inspirational post!
I believe the additional context, that is often not included in quotes, helps a bit here.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster"
Essentially, the 2nd phrase is emphasizing the prior, in that whatever you focus your attention on often results in you being captured by that same thing. We sometimes become the things we fear. Something of the abyss has now become part of us.
It could also be described as the type of thinking where the ends justify the means. When you do evil actions to destroy some evil. The fear of that evil changed you until you were willing to become evil to combat it.
A similar concept was also captured nicely by Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734664/
Thank you!