Whatever we do, we seek to do it well. While we live, we seek to live well. And so long as we live among others, we seek to do that well, also.

Each of us has a sense of what is selfless, altruistic, and just as opposed to what is selfish and undeserving; a sense of what is good and bad, virtuous and vicious, right and wrong, just and unjust, moral and immoral.

This awareness can lead us away from our self-serving inclinations and toward our better self. It can show us how to conduct ourselves in a manner that respects the well-being of everyone, rather than just our own selfish concerns.

This awareness is not decisive; merely having it does not make us good. It is not always well developed, and can be ignored, as we frequently choose to do. Worse, it can even be misused for selfish, unjust purposes.

But we can become more skillful in its use. Our sense of what is compassionate and fair must be developed and improved, so that it, and not selfishness, guides our conduct.

As difficult as it may be to cultivate virtue, it is the easiest realm of life in which to succeed, easier than fame, wealth, power, and pleasure. And yet it is the least likely path for us to progress down, because it is inconvenient to our selfishness.

There is no insurmountable obstacle to altruism, and there is no magic to awakening the better portion of ourselves, the portion that is not self-centered. It is not inevitable that we should each constantly put ourselves ahead of others. Simply by being aware of our selfish flaws and removing them, our better self is laid bare.

The world is troublesome. The best way to improve it is with people of good character. Laws may have their place, and force may sometimes be necessary to motivate people to do their duty. But laws and force do not cultivate our sense of justice or inspire us to be altruistic. They achieve little so long as selfishness is the law of the land inside us.

People routinely behave selfishly, but they do not need to. Our fulfillment lies in the opposite direction: as a person who is kind, content, just, sympathetic; who is not swayed by the crowd or by fear; who understands justice, altruism, respect, duty, love, loyalty; who sees morality as the fulfillment of selflessness, and does not twist it for selfish aims.

Our excellence, our well-being, lies in the practice of altruism and compassion, in caring for the joy and happiness of people other than ourselves, and doing so for its own sake.

Our excellence, our well-being, lies in the practice of justice and fairness, in giving to others and ourselves what is deserved based on need, merit, and equality.

Our excellence, our well-being, lies in defying what is evil and being grateful for what is good.

No one else can make you good, though you can be inspired by others, and inspire others in turn.

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