Just because you don’t like to think of yourself as exhibiting a certain characteristic doesn’t mean you aren’t. Being objective about yourself means being honest. It means being willing to consider that a particular action or attitude of yours conflicts … Continue reading
When you drive over a bridge, you don’t say, “Oh, I hope the engineers were not too rigid in their approach to building the bridge correctly. That would be ideological, and extreme.” When you cook or eat a meal you … Continue reading
I blame a lot of anger management problems on supernaturalism. Yes, you read that right. Supernaturalism refers to any variation of the belief that reality has a will and consciousness of its own. All of religion is based on this … Continue reading
Achievement does not mean unfair power over other people. It’s simply proof of the power the achiever already has, over his own mind and actions. If someone exercises power improperly, they’re not achieving anything — and all they’re displaying is intimidation.
There’s nothing bad or wrong about making a mistake. It’s refusing to think that’s unhealthy and wrong. All any of us can do is act to the best of our knowledge. This is not excuse-making; it’s simply a fact. If … Continue reading
The notion of “greed” mingles two opposite concepts. One is ambition — and I mean ambition in the widest sense, not solely for financial or career gain. “Ambition” in the widest sense means a zest for life, a commitment to … Continue reading
If it’s true that integrity is what you exhibit when nobody’s looking, it’s also true (by implication) that integrity is something you do for your OWN sake. This means that morality, which integrity serves, ought to be self-interested and rational … Continue reading
Manners are primarily for the sake of the person who practices them. They enable the person with manners to have a respect for human association, which means to make his or her own associations more comfortable and satisfying. You show … Continue reading
It’s amazing enough that the plotter of the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing, who killed several hundred innocent people twenty years ago over Scotland in a horrific and terrifying manner, only got sentenced to 27 years. Now, the Scottish judge who … Continue reading
People talk about “giving” as if that’s the only way to contribute something. The giver who “gives selflessly, and gives what he doesn’t have” is considered the epitome of morality, while people who actually produce something of tangible value are … Continue reading
“Integrity” involves telling the truth, but this is not the real definition of integrity. The real definition is that, with integrity, you stay true to who you are. Think of an analogy: A bridge has integrity; a building has structural … Continue reading
Everyone is so concerned about not being “mean.” We’re supposed to be nice to everyone, whether they’re particularly nice or fair back to us, or not. What about the people who ordinarily treat us well? Aren’t we betraying them by … Continue reading