"As threshing separates the wheat from the chaff, so does affliction purify virtue"

This quote by Christian Nestell Bovee is a metaphor comparing the process of threshing wheat to the procedure of affliction purifying virtue. Threshing is the procedure of separating the wheat from the chaff, which is the inedible external husk of the grain. In this metaphor, the wheat represents virtue and the chaff represents pollutant. The quote suggests that, just as threshing separates the wheat from the chaff, condition can be used to cleanse virtue. In other words, affliction can be used to get rid of impurities from virtue, leaving only the purest form of virtue. This metaphor implies that affliction can be a favorable force in our lives, as it can assist us to become better individuals by cleansing our virtues. It also suggests that, while affliction can be hard and agonizing, it can eventually result in a better and more virtuous life.