“There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
– William Shakespeare
Let me state straight out that I would never think I know more or could even come close to Sir William Shakespeare. I love the works of Shakespeare and am in awe that one man’s brain could be so filled with beauty and wonder. What I take issue with here is more the people who use the Shakespeare quote, “There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so”, as a way to justify doing what they want in life. There is good and bad no matter what you think.
COVERING BAD BEHAVIOR
Noted Psychologist and author of The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck said “The difficulty we have in accepting responsibility for our behavior lies in the desire to avoid the pain of the consequences of that behavior.” People do not want to be responsible for their actions so they think that by making statements like “If it feels good to you it is good”, or “Just because someone thinks it wrong doesn’t make it wrong”. They come up with every excuse they can so they do not have to face the consequences for their actions. That is why people can committee the most horrible crimes and not be punished by rather go into therapy.
RIGHT AND WRONG
Success-Minded People know that there is a good and bad, a right and wrong, just as sure as there is light and dark or east and west. It does not matter if you choose to recognize it or not, good is still good and bad is bad. Truth is never changed by public opinion or personal choice. The Success-Minded Person is one who knows good and chooses to do it simply because it is good and the right thing to do. Success-Minded People do not do what is right for what they can get out of it. Gain is never the issue, it is right so you do what is right – plain and simple. Albert Einstein put it this way: “If people are only good because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.”
CHARACTER SHOWS
Those who do what is right and good have built quality into their character. French poet and philosopher von Goethe said “Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.” The same is true for those who do what is wrong; they show what is lacking in their character, no matter how they try to cover it up with words and platitudes. Jesus said “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
Want to make the world a better place? Do what is right and good. It does not take any more energy and really is less work than doing what is bad. You do not have to worry about the consequences from doing what is right. There are consequences to be sure, but they are all good and build our character. The more you choose to do good the more influence you will have on others to do the same. As Mark twain said “To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.”
© 2011 John Patrick Hickey
