What does this phrase mean?
Hi, all:
In a story, a dog, who kept the family safe, got old and ill, this made the father decide to put him down and get a new dog. The daughter did not gave up, she managed to save the dog successfully and helped him recover. Then soon afterword, in an occasion, the father got injured seriously, and the dog saved the father's life.
In the summary of the story, the daughter says :
"I believe people pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become.
and they pay for it simply by lives they lead."
*A boomerang is in the picture of the story which I think is to show "what you do comes back to you".
The daughter's phrase is quite abstract. Especially "for what they have allowed themselves to become" is not easy to understand.
Ok, I found out that this is a quote of James Baldwin.
But stil I don't understand this very well.
Can anyone explain it for me?
Thanks.