Politicians like to ask, “Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?” I like to ask, “Do you understand and respect more people than you did 4 years ago?” A couple can get rich and still divorce. A country can prosper and still develop many fault lines. But if we deliberately work at understanding and respecting others, we become more moderate, we enjoy better relationships, and we build a better foundation to cooperate with others.
Politicians like to ask, “Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?”
I like to ask, “Do you understand and respect more people than you did 4 years ago?”
A couple can get rich and still divorce. A country can prosper and still develop many fault lines. But if we deliberately work at understanding and respecting others, we become more moderate, we enjoy better relationships, and we build a better foundation to cooperate with others.
I have a number of related ideas about this. You can read more here:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7srarHqktkHTBDYLq/bringing-out-the-best-in-humanity