"Saints need sinners"

The quote "Saints need sinners" by Alan Watts offers an extensive and paradoxical insight into the interconnectedness and interdependence of contrasting moral and ethical archetypes. At first glimpse, the statement seems paradoxical: why would people exemplifying virtue require the presence of those representing ethical fallibility?

Firstly, this quote can be understood through the lens of dualism. In lots of philosophical and spiritual traditions, the world is perceived as a balance of opposites: light and dark, excellent and wicked, or virtue and vice. Within this structure, the presence of "sinners" makes the concept of "saints" comprehensible. Saints are specified by their goodness and holiness, which starkly contrast against the background of sin and imperfection. Without sinners, the saintly qualities might lack context or relativity; ethical virtue becomes more apparent and considerable when juxtaposed with vice.

Second of all, the quote suggests a relational vibrant essential for individual and spiritual growth. Sinners, through their defects and mistakes, provide saints-- those looking for ethical ascension-- opportunities for compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. In experiencing sin and flaw, saints exercise and deepen their own virtues. Negating the existence of sinners would hence restrict the saint's journey towards more altruism and empathy.

Furthermore, "Saints need sinners" can be translated as a commentary on humanity. By suggesting an intrinsic requirement for opposition, Watts assesses the complexity and the imperfections intrinsic in human beings. It underscores a shared human condition where all people have the potential for both sinfulness and saintliness. Acknowledging this double prospective encourages humbleness and cultivates a thoughtful stance towards others.

Eventually, Alan Watts challenges us to embrace the interdependent nature of morality. By recognizing that saints and sinners are not separated entities but important parts of a complex ethical tapestry, we value the nuanced balance within human morality and spirituality.