1 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:25,820 Speaker 1: Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of 2 00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:29,460 Speaker 1: hours of Dennis's lectures courses in classic radio programs. Had 3 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:39,700 Speaker 1: to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to Dennisprager dot com. 4 00:00:41,140 --> 00:00:43,860 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show to the Ultimate 5 00:00:43,940 --> 00:00:48,660 Speaker 2: Issues Hour. Every week at this hour, I talk about 6 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:52,180 Speaker 2: some great issue of life, some ultimate issue as I 7 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:56,380 Speaker 2: call it, in the hope that we can understand life 8 00:00:56,380 --> 00:00:59,420 Speaker 2: and live it, and understand it better and live it better. 9 00:01:00,620 --> 00:01:05,340 Speaker 2: I have talked to you on many occasions about the fact, 10 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:08,179 Speaker 2: not my belief, the fact that the human being is 11 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:12,340 Speaker 2: not basically good that we have not I don't believe 12 00:01:12,380 --> 00:01:18,340 Speaker 2: basically evil either necessarily, But I do believe that what 13 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:23,860 Speaker 2: is pretty obvious, and that is that untutored, undisciplined, the 14 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:26,940 Speaker 2: human being is more likely to do more bad than good. 15 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:31,700 Speaker 2: That there is great work necessary to make good people. 16 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:36,780 Speaker 2: And that is the subject of this edition of the 17 00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:45,060 Speaker 2: Ultimate Issues Hour. How do you make a good person? Well, 18 00:01:47,340 --> 00:01:50,340 Speaker 2: the truth is, in order to make a good person, 19 00:01:50,420 --> 00:01:52,300 Speaker 2: the first thing you have to do is realize that 20 00:01:52,340 --> 00:01:56,860 Speaker 2: you have to make one that is lost upon vast 21 00:01:56,940 --> 00:02:04,620 Speaker 2: numbers of people, especially especially especially in our time we 22 00:02:04,740 --> 00:02:06,900 Speaker 2: do live. Remember in the age of stupidity, there was 23 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:09,660 Speaker 2: a renaissance, there was an age of reason, there was 24 00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:12,700 Speaker 2: in the Enlightenment, and we now have the age of stupidity. 25 00:02:13,060 --> 00:02:17,779 Speaker 2: And in the age of stupidity, people do not realize 26 00:02:18,180 --> 00:02:25,100 Speaker 2: how significant it is to wage a war, even but 27 00:02:25,220 --> 00:02:30,380 Speaker 2: to make great efforts at making a person good, because 28 00:02:30,380 --> 00:02:35,019 Speaker 2: we don't start out that way. Babies aren't good, one 29 00:02:35,020 --> 00:02:45,980 Speaker 2: of the great misconceptions of life. Babies are not good. Right, 30 00:02:46,140 --> 00:02:49,900 Speaker 2: don't be offended. I didn't mean to offend you, But 31 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:56,500 Speaker 2: babies are not good. Babies are innocent. There are no 32 00:02:56,620 --> 00:03:00,060 Speaker 2: baby pictures up at post offices, there are no baby rapists, 33 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:04,460 Speaker 2: there are no baby bank robbers. I understand that babies 34 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:08,380 Speaker 2: aren't bad, but they're not good. They are, in fact, 35 00:03:08,540 --> 00:03:12,100 Speaker 2: the most selfish creatures in the world. And there is 36 00:03:12,180 --> 00:03:16,980 Speaker 2: no reason for us to leave the self centeredness of 37 00:03:17,180 --> 00:03:21,340 Speaker 2: babyhood as we get older, unless we are ought to 38 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:27,859 Speaker 2: leave it. We are naturally narcissistic, we are naturally self preoccupied, 39 00:03:28,460 --> 00:03:30,660 Speaker 2: and to a certain extent by the way we should be. 40 00:03:31,660 --> 00:03:34,060 Speaker 2: We should take care of ourselves, and we should be 41 00:03:34,140 --> 00:03:38,380 Speaker 2: concerned with ourselves. That is important, but not just with ourselves, 42 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:44,900 Speaker 2: and not to be primarily self preoccupied. So in order 43 00:03:45,020 --> 00:03:48,900 Speaker 2: to make good people, you have to start out with 44 00:03:48,980 --> 00:03:53,580 Speaker 2: the with the realization and the acknowledgment that we need 45 00:03:53,620 --> 00:03:59,500 Speaker 2: to make good people. So it's so obvious that it 46 00:03:59,540 --> 00:04:03,740 Speaker 2: has eluded vast stretches of our society and of our 47 00:04:03,820 --> 00:04:07,500 Speaker 2: Western world, where we think that all if you just 48 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:11,780 Speaker 2: raise children with love and a good education at school, 49 00:04:12,180 --> 00:04:15,100 Speaker 2: they'll be productive and good citizens and good people. But 50 00:04:15,140 --> 00:04:17,859 Speaker 2: it is not true. It is not true. They'll just 51 00:04:17,980 --> 00:04:25,380 Speaker 2: be well educated barbarians. We need so much. It is 52 00:04:25,460 --> 00:04:29,580 Speaker 2: the hardest task in the world. It is easier, hear me, 53 00:04:31,260 --> 00:04:34,419 Speaker 2: It is easier to produce and I mean this literally. 54 00:04:35,539 --> 00:04:40,300 Speaker 2: It is easier to produce a rocket scientist or a 55 00:04:40,420 --> 00:04:47,300 Speaker 2: neurosurgeon than it is a good person. We know exactly 56 00:04:47,340 --> 00:04:49,580 Speaker 2: what we have to do to produce a rocket scientist 57 00:04:49,660 --> 00:04:51,979 Speaker 2: through a neurosurgeon. You give X number of years of 58 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:56,420 Speaker 2: education under the following tutors. Nah, you automatically get one. 59 00:04:56,460 --> 00:05:01,099 Speaker 2: It's it's pretty much guaranteed. You give the following inputs 60 00:05:01,740 --> 00:05:04,940 Speaker 2: and you get the following output. It's not so, it's 61 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:08,859 Speaker 2: not nearly as easy with goodness, not nearly as easy, 62 00:05:09,620 --> 00:05:13,380 Speaker 2: and there is no one solution that is as clear 63 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:17,900 Speaker 2: as how do you produce a good doctor? That's relatively easy. 64 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:21,219 Speaker 2: You give them a good medical medical education, and unless 65 00:05:21,220 --> 00:05:24,420 Speaker 2: they are incapable of absorbing the material, they'll be a 66 00:05:24,420 --> 00:05:28,260 Speaker 2: good doctor. Maybe not a great doctor, maybe no bedside 67 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:32,020 Speaker 2: manner uh or or some other some. They will have 68 00:05:32,060 --> 00:05:35,140 Speaker 2: some other lapses in their professional life, but they'll be 69 00:05:35,180 --> 00:05:38,060 Speaker 2: they'll be competent. How do you make a competently good person? 70 00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:42,820 Speaker 2: We obviously fail in the cases of hundreds or billions 71 00:05:42,820 --> 00:05:45,260 Speaker 2: of people. There are a lot of people who are 72 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:49,020 Speaker 2: not good in this world. And by the way, bye 73 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:52,780 Speaker 2: bye uh by good, I don't mean a On the 74 00:05:52,780 --> 00:05:56,260 Speaker 2: one hand, I don't mean a saint, And on the 75 00:05:56,340 --> 00:06:00,339 Speaker 2: other hand, I don't mean merely somebody who doesn't murder anybody. 76 00:06:01,140 --> 00:06:05,660 Speaker 2: I made a video, and I beg you to see 77 00:06:05,660 --> 00:06:07,660 Speaker 2: this video and show it to your kids. I made 78 00:06:07,660 --> 00:06:12,100 Speaker 2: one on goodness, a very very funny Hollywood film that 79 00:06:12,220 --> 00:06:16,580 Speaker 2: I made, call for Goodness sake through what Dennispraguer dot com. 80 00:06:16,620 --> 00:06:19,820 Speaker 2: Is that right? Just go to Dennispraguer dot com. And 81 00:06:19,980 --> 00:06:22,219 Speaker 2: you know I don't advertise like this this is but 82 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,900 Speaker 2: I'm telling you this. This could change the way you 83 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:28,340 Speaker 2: and your children look at goodness. It's very funny, it's 84 00:06:28,380 --> 00:06:32,420 Speaker 2: got the major Hollywood folks in it, but it's something 85 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:37,380 Speaker 2: that I've been preoccupied with for so long, and that 86 00:06:37,540 --> 00:06:40,140 Speaker 2: is the issue of making good people. How do you 87 00:06:40,180 --> 00:06:45,620 Speaker 2: make a person good? And it is not easy. So 88 00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:51,099 Speaker 2: number one, Number one, you have to acknowledge that you 89 00:06:51,260 --> 00:06:55,020 Speaker 2: have to make people good. It doesn't happen on its own. Now, 90 00:06:55,060 --> 00:06:57,900 Speaker 2: there is a small percentage of humanity where it does 91 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:01,020 Speaker 2: happen on its own. Many of you may know a 92 00:07:01,220 --> 00:07:05,099 Speaker 2: child who from birth was just a doll. You didn't 93 00:07:05,140 --> 00:07:08,020 Speaker 2: have to teach them anything. They just instinctively did what 94 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:10,940 Speaker 2: was good. They were kind from the outset. But for 95 00:07:10,980 --> 00:07:13,700 Speaker 2: the other eighty percent of humanity, we have to have 96 00:07:14,660 --> 00:07:18,260 Speaker 2: the acknowledgment that someone needs to be made good. That's 97 00:07:18,380 --> 00:07:22,580 Speaker 2: number one in a addressing the issue of how do 98 00:07:22,660 --> 00:07:27,780 Speaker 2: we make good people? First realize it. Number two. You 99 00:07:27,820 --> 00:07:30,500 Speaker 2: know what Number two is? No, you know, but you don't. 100 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:38,140 Speaker 2: Number two is it has to be the most important 101 00:07:38,180 --> 00:07:46,020 Speaker 2: thing that you teach a human being. For most parents, 102 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:50,940 Speaker 2: it is not the most important their child's success, their 103 00:07:51,020 --> 00:07:55,140 Speaker 2: child's academic success, or athletic success or their popularity with 104 00:07:55,220 --> 00:08:02,020 Speaker 2: other students are more important. More time is devoted and 105 00:08:02,620 --> 00:08:08,740 Speaker 2: to it. Goodness is not number one. Character is not 106 00:08:08,980 --> 00:08:13,100 Speaker 2: number one for most parents, even for many good parents, 107 00:08:13,180 --> 00:08:17,500 Speaker 2: many parents who were good people. They don't but goodness 108 00:08:17,580 --> 00:08:20,060 Speaker 2: is not number one. And one way to figure it 109 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:25,700 Speaker 2: out is ask your kid. Okay, ask your kid. If 110 00:08:25,740 --> 00:08:30,700 Speaker 2: your kid is five, fifteen, or fifty five, it doesn't matter. 111 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:34,380 Speaker 2: I want you to ask your child this question. What 112 00:08:34,540 --> 00:08:38,820 Speaker 2: do you think I your mother or I your father 113 00:08:39,579 --> 00:08:43,700 Speaker 2: most want you to be? You got to get the 114 00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:46,939 Speaker 2: words right, folks. What do you think I not? What 115 00:08:46,980 --> 00:08:50,260 Speaker 2: do you want? What do you think I your mother 116 00:08:50,380 --> 00:08:54,780 Speaker 2: or father most? That's the key word. Most want you 117 00:08:54,860 --> 00:09:02,339 Speaker 2: to be a success in life or just successful? If 118 00:09:02,340 --> 00:09:10,900 Speaker 2: you wish successful, happy or good? What do you think 119 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:13,660 Speaker 2: I most want you to be? I want you to 120 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:15,780 Speaker 2: be all three? We all know that. But I want 121 00:09:15,860 --> 00:09:20,860 Speaker 2: what do you think I most? That way, you get 122 00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:23,500 Speaker 2: feedback immediately. What is it that I have conveyed to 123 00:09:23,580 --> 00:09:32,180 Speaker 2: my child that I most want my from my child? 124 00:09:32,420 --> 00:09:35,300 Speaker 2: And I'll give you another example of where we fail 125 00:09:35,340 --> 00:09:40,180 Speaker 2: in this regard. I wrote a piece. Did I get 126 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:42,220 Speaker 2: hate mail on this? I wrote a piece I should 127 00:09:42,260 --> 00:09:48,220 Speaker 2: update this piece. I wrote a piece on the following question, 128 00:09:49,060 --> 00:09:57,219 Speaker 2: would you ravy your teenager, smoke or cheat? And it 129 00:09:57,940 --> 00:10:01,380 Speaker 2: was astonishing to me how many said that they would 130 00:10:01,420 --> 00:10:05,100 Speaker 2: prefer that their kids cheated on tests then smoke a 131 00:10:05,140 --> 00:10:11,300 Speaker 2: cigarette or a cigar. So don't tell me that ethics 132 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:16,860 Speaker 2: is number one or goodness is number one. So two, 133 00:10:17,340 --> 00:10:20,699 Speaker 2: I giving you two guidelines on how to make a 134 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:23,980 Speaker 2: good person. One to know that they have to be made, 135 00:10:24,020 --> 00:10:29,100 Speaker 2: it doesn't come naturally. And two to make it. Number one, 136 00:10:29,740 --> 00:10:32,500 Speaker 2: we continue on the Ultimate Issues Hour on the Dennis 137 00:10:32,580 --> 00:10:33,220 Speaker 2: Prager Show. 138 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:38,260 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 139 00:10:43,780 --> 00:10:49,060 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom. 140 00:10:49,220 --> 00:10:52,420 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show, the Ultimate Issues Hour, 141 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:56,660 Speaker 2: the Great Questions of Life. This hour, every week is 142 00:10:56,700 --> 00:10:59,980 Speaker 2: devoted to some ultimate issue, and this one is how 143 00:11:00,179 --> 00:11:03,660 Speaker 2: do you make a good person? Number one I said 144 00:11:03,860 --> 00:11:06,100 Speaker 2: was you have to acknowledge you have to help make 145 00:11:06,140 --> 00:11:09,459 Speaker 2: a good person because it rarely happens on its own. 146 00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:13,540 Speaker 2: It does, but rarely we have to work as a 147 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:17,780 Speaker 2: society and as parents to make good people. Number Two, 148 00:11:18,140 --> 00:11:20,860 Speaker 2: it has to be the number one priority. It has 149 00:11:20,940 --> 00:11:25,060 Speaker 2: to be above all other, all other goals. And you 150 00:11:25,140 --> 00:11:27,060 Speaker 2: know there are many goals in life, and I have 151 00:11:27,140 --> 00:11:30,980 Speaker 2: many goals in life, and I advocate many, and as 152 00:11:31,060 --> 00:11:36,060 Speaker 2: much as I give staggering importance to happiness, still number 153 00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:42,620 Speaker 2: one is goodness? All right? Now, how do you do that? 154 00:11:42,940 --> 00:11:45,180 Speaker 2: Once you have acknowledged that you have to try to 155 00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:49,020 Speaker 2: make good people as a society and as parents, and 156 00:11:49,100 --> 00:11:52,100 Speaker 2: once you say, okay, it is number one, it is 157 00:11:52,140 --> 00:11:55,140 Speaker 2: more important than any other single consideration, that is being 158 00:11:55,179 --> 00:11:59,459 Speaker 2: a good person. Now many of you will say, well, 159 00:11:59,460 --> 00:12:01,820 Speaker 2: what is a good person? We'll deal with that. Put 160 00:12:01,820 --> 00:12:03,380 Speaker 2: that down and we'll deal with that. What is a 161 00:12:03,380 --> 00:12:05,140 Speaker 2: good person? I'd like to deal with that as a 162 00:12:05,260 --> 00:12:12,860 Speaker 2: UI issue. If I don't narrowly focus each of these hours, 163 00:12:13,140 --> 00:12:15,740 Speaker 2: we'll never get anything done. So please understand, folks, I 164 00:12:15,820 --> 00:12:19,180 Speaker 2: understand that as a valid question, but I suspect that 165 00:12:19,220 --> 00:12:21,900 Speaker 2: we have somewhat simil or views of what a good 166 00:12:22,380 --> 00:12:29,580 Speaker 2: decent person is. All right, Number three then, or number one? 167 00:12:30,060 --> 00:12:32,740 Speaker 2: Now that we know we have to and make a 168 00:12:32,780 --> 00:12:34,579 Speaker 2: good person, and now that we know that it should 169 00:12:34,580 --> 00:12:40,540 Speaker 2: be the priority. Okay, number one, here it goes. You 170 00:12:40,660 --> 00:12:44,140 Speaker 2: have to teach a child and for that matter, an adult. 171 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:53,340 Speaker 2: We have to teach. We have to teach people to 172 00:12:53,540 --> 00:13:03,540 Speaker 2: battle themselves first. This is not done. It is done 173 00:13:03,660 --> 00:13:07,540 Speaker 2: in some religious homes, not all, and it is done 174 00:13:07,580 --> 00:13:12,740 Speaker 2: in very few secular homes. The understanding that the greatest 175 00:13:12,820 --> 00:13:16,700 Speaker 2: battle in your life is not with the outside world, 176 00:13:16,940 --> 00:13:20,980 Speaker 2: it is with you. I have often characterized that difference 177 00:13:21,020 --> 00:13:26,780 Speaker 2: between my religious education and a typical secular education as 178 00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:31,060 Speaker 2: and I met many religious people, whether whether in our society, 179 00:13:31,140 --> 00:13:35,380 Speaker 2: Christian or jew, have identified with this, that the greatest 180 00:13:35,460 --> 00:13:38,700 Speaker 2: that we were taught that the greatest battle is with yourself. 181 00:13:38,780 --> 00:13:41,340 Speaker 2: I was taught, Dennis, the greatest problem in your life, 182 00:13:41,380 --> 00:13:47,740 Speaker 2: the greatest obstacle to overcome, is Dennis, not society. And 183 00:13:48,060 --> 00:13:51,500 Speaker 2: in society you get a very different, very often a 184 00:13:51,620 --> 00:13:57,380 Speaker 2: very different view. The greatest obstacle is outside of you. Sexism, classism, racism, 185 00:13:59,060 --> 00:14:01,580 Speaker 2: whatever it is. There is something out there that has 186 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:06,300 Speaker 2: to be fought. You're terrific, But the society is really 187 00:14:06,780 --> 00:14:09,939 Speaker 2: the bad place. And I was taught society is pretty 188 00:14:10,020 --> 00:14:13,780 Speaker 2: darn good. It's you, Dennis, that have to be battled, 189 00:14:14,380 --> 00:14:16,900 Speaker 2: not this society. Now, there are societies where the battle 190 00:14:16,940 --> 00:14:19,340 Speaker 2: is great. There are some evil societies in this world, 191 00:14:20,300 --> 00:14:22,740 Speaker 2: and there there it is different. There you have to 192 00:14:22,780 --> 00:14:27,620 Speaker 2: battle the society and yourself. But in a free, decent society, 193 00:14:27,660 --> 00:14:31,020 Speaker 2: which this largely is a I am my basic problem, 194 00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:34,140 Speaker 2: and you are your basic problem. And the obstacles to 195 00:14:34,180 --> 00:14:36,620 Speaker 2: your being a good person and leading a good life 196 00:14:36,700 --> 00:14:41,740 Speaker 2: are overwhelmingly within you. What are they, well, they're all 197 00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:49,020 Speaker 2: our weaknesses. We are born self centered. Irresponsibility is the norm, 198 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:54,860 Speaker 2: not responsibility. What kid is born responsible? Gem, I'd really 199 00:14:54,900 --> 00:14:56,940 Speaker 2: like to clean the table now that I finished eating. 200 00:14:57,340 --> 00:14:59,340 Speaker 2: There's no reason for you to do this work, since 201 00:14:59,380 --> 00:15:01,500 Speaker 2: you have so much to do during the day, Allow 202 00:15:01,580 --> 00:15:03,820 Speaker 2: me to do it. If there is a child who 203 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:06,820 Speaker 2: naturally said that I want you to send me his 204 00:15:06,980 --> 00:15:13,060 Speaker 2: name or her name, I cannot believe that that child 205 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:16,300 Speaker 2: has ever been invented, because it would have to be invented. 206 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:24,660 Speaker 2: They wouldn't have been born under normal circumstances. Laziness, appetites, prejudices. 207 00:15:24,860 --> 00:15:28,580 Speaker 2: I mean, they were just filled. We are filled with 208 00:15:28,780 --> 00:15:31,700 Speaker 2: stuff that we have to battle that is in all 209 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:36,900 Speaker 2: of these things within us, naturally. So here is zero 210 00:15:36,940 --> 00:15:40,740 Speaker 2: point three and rule number one on making a good person. 211 00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:46,700 Speaker 2: You have to battle yourself because if you follow what 212 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:51,300 Speaker 2: you want to do. You're gonna hurt people, you are, 213 00:15:52,340 --> 00:15:54,820 Speaker 2: It's just natural. You have to learn to share. How 214 00:15:54,860 --> 00:15:56,980 Speaker 2: many times did you say to your kid, learn to share? 215 00:15:57,060 --> 00:16:00,020 Speaker 2: You have to learn to share. You ever see the 216 00:16:00,020 --> 00:16:03,820 Speaker 2: typical kid at a birthday party the hoard the cookies. 217 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:07,700 Speaker 2: If the kid ate as much cookies as he was holding, 218 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:11,460 Speaker 2: he would have to have a stomach pumped. Why are 219 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:13,740 Speaker 2: you carrying? Why are you carrying thirty two cookies? I 220 00:16:13,780 --> 00:16:16,340 Speaker 2: want them? I want them. Well, there's a kid here starving, 221 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:20,980 Speaker 2: he doesn't have any I don't care. I mean, I'm 222 00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:25,140 Speaker 2: making up a hyperbolic scenario, but that would be the 223 00:16:25,180 --> 00:16:29,060 Speaker 2: same thing. How many times have you told your kids 224 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:32,300 Speaker 2: say thank you? Do you think gratitude comes naturally? Gratitude 225 00:16:32,340 --> 00:16:37,020 Speaker 2: is entirely taught. Because we are self centered. We think 226 00:16:37,060 --> 00:16:41,020 Speaker 2: that things are coming to us, we think that we 227 00:16:41,140 --> 00:16:44,820 Speaker 2: deserve it. Well, of course, my parents do all these 228 00:16:44,860 --> 00:16:46,940 Speaker 2: things for me because I'm the center of the universe. 229 00:16:48,220 --> 00:16:50,220 Speaker 2: Of Course people do these things for me because I'm 230 00:16:50,220 --> 00:16:52,540 Speaker 2: the center of the universe. So you teacher, say thank you, 231 00:16:52,980 --> 00:16:56,900 Speaker 2: they thank you, say thank you, hey, thank you, And 232 00:16:56,940 --> 00:16:59,380 Speaker 2: we do that with our kids because they don't naturally 233 00:16:59,420 --> 00:17:03,700 Speaker 2: say thank you. It is a completely unnatural gratitude, completely 234 00:17:06,659 --> 00:17:09,340 Speaker 2: that and that is a perfect function of being so 235 00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:13,460 Speaker 2: self centered. I am a gravitational pull. Therefore, it does 236 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,740 Speaker 2: the Sun thank the Earth for staying within its gravity? No, 237 00:17:17,820 --> 00:17:19,739 Speaker 2: Because the Sun is the Sun and has such a 238 00:17:19,740 --> 00:17:23,779 Speaker 2: gravitational pull, of course the planets will orbit it. And 239 00:17:23,820 --> 00:17:26,219 Speaker 2: that's how we think we have such gravitational pull. Of 240 00:17:26,219 --> 00:17:31,859 Speaker 2: course people will orbit us. So Number one, you have 241 00:17:31,939 --> 00:17:34,219 Speaker 2: to teach the human being that you have to battle 242 00:17:34,219 --> 00:17:38,540 Speaker 2: your nature. And there's a whole list, as I gave 243 00:17:39,060 --> 00:17:43,979 Speaker 2: a list, just irresponsibility, laziness, appetites. I mean, we know, 244 00:17:44,179 --> 00:17:48,259 Speaker 2: certainly we adults know about the appetites issue, whether it's food, sex, whatever, 245 00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:53,340 Speaker 2: it might be, fame, money. If you let your appetite 246 00:17:53,659 --> 00:17:56,700 Speaker 2: run your life, then you're not going to of course 247 00:17:56,739 --> 00:17:58,419 Speaker 2: you won't be a happy person. But this is not 248 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:02,060 Speaker 2: the happiness hour. This is about This is about character 249 00:18:02,139 --> 00:18:06,179 Speaker 2: and ethics. And it's a very good question for people 250 00:18:06,219 --> 00:18:09,739 Speaker 2: and for society that do schools teach kids to fight themselves? No, 251 00:18:09,859 --> 00:18:14,460 Speaker 2: not at all. That's gone. Character education by and large 252 00:18:14,540 --> 00:18:19,019 Speaker 2: is dead. Maybe a handful of schools will still have 253 00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:20,739 Speaker 2: it in the way that I mean it where And 254 00:18:20,899 --> 00:18:26,460 Speaker 2: character education doesn't mean that you you run for breast cancer. 255 00:18:27,419 --> 00:18:29,819 Speaker 2: That's a very nice thing to do, but that's not 256 00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:40,340 Speaker 2: character education. Character education is battling yourself. Yeah, I would 257 00:18:40,379 --> 00:18:42,100 Speaker 2: like to get a I really do want to get 258 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:44,060 Speaker 2: a good grade on this test, but I won't cheat 259 00:18:44,100 --> 00:18:48,619 Speaker 2: on it. More coming up and I'll take your calls 260 00:18:48,699 --> 00:18:52,739 Speaker 2: and your challenges. One to eight Prager seven seven six. 261 00:18:53,699 --> 00:18:58,300 Speaker 2: This is the Ultimate Issues Hour on the Dennis Prager Show. 262 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:03,859 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 263 00:19:09,340 --> 00:19:14,180 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom. 264 00:19:14,379 --> 00:19:18,980 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show. This is the 265 00:19:19,060 --> 00:19:22,179 Speaker 2: Ultimate Issues Hour, and this is how do you make 266 00:19:22,340 --> 00:19:25,379 Speaker 2: good people? How do you make people good? Because we 267 00:19:25,379 --> 00:19:29,899 Speaker 2: don't start out good? Number one, acknowledge that we have 268 00:19:29,939 --> 00:19:31,979 Speaker 2: to make people good that they don't start out good. 269 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:34,899 Speaker 2: Number two, make it the number one priority for society 270 00:19:34,939 --> 00:19:40,179 Speaker 2: and for parents. Number three. Once you do it, you 271 00:19:40,219 --> 00:19:43,219 Speaker 2: start with the notion that you have to battle yourself first. 272 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:48,139 Speaker 2: Character development means you battle your own self. Oh, I 273 00:19:48,219 --> 00:19:50,899 Speaker 2: have a lot more. I have a lot more. And 274 00:19:50,939 --> 00:19:52,660 Speaker 2: this may be just part one, but I do want 275 00:19:52,659 --> 00:20:02,179 Speaker 2: to take your calls here from around the country, and boy, 276 00:20:02,340 --> 00:20:08,979 Speaker 2: let's begin with Robert in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Robert Dennis Prager. 277 00:20:09,060 --> 00:20:12,100 Speaker 3: Hih hey, Dens, how you do I mentioned Naples one time. Yeah, 278 00:20:12,419 --> 00:20:14,379 Speaker 3: I guess you're a simple answer to that, Adams. And 279 00:20:14,459 --> 00:20:17,340 Speaker 3: my father always said, set a good example and trust that. 280 00:20:17,260 --> 00:20:17,820 Speaker 4: You did well. 281 00:20:18,340 --> 00:20:20,299 Speaker 3: And then that's that's what he did, and that's what 282 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:22,299 Speaker 3: I did to my Son's a very fine young man 283 00:20:22,540 --> 00:20:24,500 Speaker 3: just back from Iraq and a good father and all that. 284 00:20:24,739 --> 00:20:28,420 Speaker 3: And it just comes from living a lifestyle and knowing 285 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:30,499 Speaker 3: that you're doing the right thing. And I always do 286 00:20:30,580 --> 00:20:31,060 Speaker 3: the right thing. 287 00:20:31,699 --> 00:20:34,780 Speaker 2: Well, Robert, I think there's a lot more you may 288 00:20:34,780 --> 00:20:37,819 Speaker 2: be selling yourself short. I want to respond to that 289 00:20:37,820 --> 00:20:40,179 Speaker 2: as a very important call. It comes up all the time. 290 00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:43,619 Speaker 2: Maybe just parenting is a matter of good modeling. Nope, 291 00:20:43,699 --> 00:20:48,260 Speaker 2: I wish it were so. Oh boy, do I wish 292 00:20:48,459 --> 00:20:54,139 Speaker 2: from Robert's mouth to God's ears. No, I'm sorry. Good 293 00:20:54,260 --> 00:21:01,459 Speaker 2: modeling is important, but not sufficient. Necessary, but not sufficient. 294 00:21:04,419 --> 00:21:07,659 Speaker 2: You know, how many parents of the in my eyes, 295 00:21:07,820 --> 00:21:11,020 Speaker 2: in my opinion, that how many parents of the baby boomers, 296 00:21:11,459 --> 00:21:16,059 Speaker 2: so many of whom became so narcissistic my generation of 297 00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:21,699 Speaker 2: college and graduate students, parents were just fine and fine people, 298 00:21:22,179 --> 00:21:29,100 Speaker 2: and the kids were incredibly self centered, spending their lives 299 00:21:29,340 --> 00:21:32,619 Speaker 2: alternating between getting high on sex and getting high on 300 00:21:32,699 --> 00:21:37,419 Speaker 2: drugs and getting high on drink and yeah, make love 301 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:40,100 Speaker 2: not war man, and don't bother me, man, don't bull 302 00:21:40,139 --> 00:21:42,780 Speaker 2: at me with any of these big issues. You know, 303 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:49,420 Speaker 2: I'm just I want to enjoy myself. And those parents 304 00:21:49,419 --> 00:21:52,619 Speaker 2: were fine parents. Also on the modeling issue, let me 305 00:21:52,659 --> 00:21:57,779 Speaker 2: ask you a question, can you model music? Do you 306 00:21:57,820 --> 00:22:00,700 Speaker 2: give your child piano lessons or do you just play piano. 307 00:22:02,540 --> 00:22:04,699 Speaker 2: You're a great model, look at how great a piano 308 00:22:04,780 --> 00:22:09,139 Speaker 2: you play, but you still give your child piano lessons. 309 00:22:09,179 --> 00:22:11,300 Speaker 2: It doesn't help that you're a good model, or it 310 00:22:11,379 --> 00:22:16,780 Speaker 2: might help, but it's hardly enough. No, no, no, it's 311 00:22:16,820 --> 00:22:18,659 Speaker 2: not enough to be a good model. And a lot 312 00:22:18,699 --> 00:22:21,459 Speaker 2: of parents I think have been fooled that. I think 313 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:24,460 Speaker 2: it may have come out well in Robert's case here, 314 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:26,859 Speaker 2: and I still don't think that's the only thing he did. 315 00:22:26,899 --> 00:22:30,379 Speaker 2: He probably doesn't realize how many, how many values he 316 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:34,059 Speaker 2: passed on verbally and how much is how much his 317 00:22:34,219 --> 00:22:38,219 Speaker 2: society or extended family helped in raising the children but 318 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:42,379 Speaker 2: a good parent, a parent who was good, a parent 319 00:22:42,419 --> 00:22:45,419 Speaker 2: who was a good person is by no means sufficient. 320 00:22:46,820 --> 00:22:50,940 Speaker 2: All right, let's go to Oryan and Gilbert Arizona. Hell O, Ryan, Dennis. 321 00:22:50,619 --> 00:22:53,899 Speaker 5: Praynis, Okay, thanks, good. 322 00:22:54,260 --> 00:22:54,460 Speaker 3: Hey. 323 00:22:54,540 --> 00:22:57,459 Speaker 5: I was just wondering what the definition of the word 324 00:22:57,540 --> 00:22:58,139 Speaker 5: good is. 325 00:22:59,020 --> 00:23:02,139 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mentioned I mentioned earlier that that I'm going 326 00:23:02,219 --> 00:23:04,859 Speaker 2: to spend an entire hour just answering what is a 327 00:23:04,859 --> 00:23:08,739 Speaker 2: good person. But well, the beginning, one, I guess, is 328 00:23:08,820 --> 00:23:11,179 Speaker 2: to take the Hippocratic oath, and that is, first, do 329 00:23:11,340 --> 00:23:12,460 Speaker 2: no harm. 330 00:23:12,739 --> 00:23:16,179 Speaker 5: Okay, okay, Like even in the Old Testament, I talks 331 00:23:16,219 --> 00:23:20,419 Speaker 5: about good deeds being righteousnesses, but if they're not done 332 00:23:21,419 --> 00:23:25,500 Speaker 5: for God specifically, than they're considered like filthy rags. 333 00:23:25,699 --> 00:23:29,499 Speaker 2: Yeah. I don't buy that. That's a theological difference that 334 00:23:29,540 --> 00:23:33,060 Speaker 2: you and I would have, and and and and theological 335 00:23:33,060 --> 00:23:36,820 Speaker 2: differences are not something I tend to go. I believe 336 00:23:36,979 --> 00:23:39,580 Speaker 2: that God values the good deed of an atheist and 337 00:23:39,619 --> 00:23:43,340 Speaker 2: a pagan. I don't think God looks at two atheists 338 00:23:43,419 --> 00:23:46,139 Speaker 2: one is a murderer and one spends his life in 339 00:23:46,179 --> 00:23:50,060 Speaker 2: the hospital for terminally ill children, and says, well, since 340 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:53,899 Speaker 2: you both don't believe in me, I have no use 341 00:23:53,939 --> 00:23:56,139 Speaker 2: for any of the goodness or and I don't care 342 00:23:56,179 --> 00:23:58,139 Speaker 2: about any of the evil that the bad guy did. 343 00:23:58,179 --> 00:23:59,859 Speaker 2: I do not believe in that sort of god. 344 00:24:00,580 --> 00:24:03,379 Speaker 5: I do think it culturally has an effect, and I 345 00:24:03,379 --> 00:24:07,339 Speaker 5: do think that the good, as the world sees it 346 00:24:07,379 --> 00:24:09,500 Speaker 5: is one thing. And we can recognize what good is 347 00:24:09,540 --> 00:24:12,899 Speaker 5: because of general revelation in Okay, well, all. 348 00:24:12,899 --> 00:24:15,660 Speaker 2: Right, that's an that's I am yet to come to that. 349 00:24:16,419 --> 00:24:20,939 Speaker 2: And that is a code of goodness. It is not 350 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:23,939 Speaker 2: enough to come from inside the individual. A code of 351 00:24:23,979 --> 00:24:29,299 Speaker 2: goodness is necessary, absolutely right. Then comes the question is 352 00:24:29,340 --> 00:24:31,139 Speaker 2: it enough for the code to be human? Does it 353 00:24:31,219 --> 00:24:33,979 Speaker 2: have to be divine? This is a complex question, but 354 00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:38,499 Speaker 2: I am taking it part by part. We continue with 355 00:24:38,580 --> 00:24:40,819 Speaker 2: the Ultimate Issues Hour and the question of how do 356 00:24:40,859 --> 00:24:47,540 Speaker 2: you make people good? On the Dennis Prager Show. All right, everybody, 357 00:24:47,540 --> 00:24:52,139 Speaker 2: you're listening to the Dennis Prager Show, and this is 358 00:24:52,179 --> 00:24:54,659 Speaker 2: the Ultimate Issues Hour, an hour each week devoted to 359 00:24:54,699 --> 00:24:56,939 Speaker 2: the great questions of life. This one is how do 360 00:24:56,979 --> 00:24:59,219 Speaker 2: you make people good? Since we don't start out good, 361 00:25:00,540 --> 00:25:03,179 Speaker 2: how do you make a person good? And, as I said, 362 00:25:03,179 --> 00:25:05,220 Speaker 2: it has to be the number one question of society. 363 00:25:05,219 --> 00:25:09,539 Speaker 2: How do we make good people. Not how do we 364 00:25:09,580 --> 00:25:12,780 Speaker 2: make good government? That's important, But how do we make 365 00:25:12,820 --> 00:25:18,939 Speaker 2: good people? That is the first and most important question, 366 00:25:21,939 --> 00:25:25,459 Speaker 2: and it should be asked by anyone in any religion 367 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:29,859 Speaker 2: and in an outside of religion, and that should be 368 00:25:29,899 --> 00:25:32,979 Speaker 2: the number That's the one thing that should unify all people, 369 00:25:33,899 --> 00:25:37,499 Speaker 2: of every religion and of no religion. How do we 370 00:25:37,540 --> 00:25:42,659 Speaker 2: make people good? Then theology can kick in, that's fine. 371 00:25:43,260 --> 00:25:47,420 Speaker 2: Different religions will have different methodologies. Different secular people may 372 00:25:47,419 --> 00:25:51,740 Speaker 2: have different methodologies. That's fine. But the first question has 373 00:25:51,820 --> 00:25:54,899 Speaker 2: to be asked is how do we make a good person? 374 00:25:54,979 --> 00:25:56,979 Speaker 2: And if you don't put goodness at the center of 375 00:25:56,979 --> 00:26:00,659 Speaker 2: your religion, then you're gonna You're gonna suffer. That doesn't 376 00:26:00,699 --> 00:26:02,459 Speaker 2: mean that other things can't be at the center. That 377 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,340 Speaker 2: of course, God is at the center of of of 378 00:26:04,580 --> 00:26:08,819 Speaker 2: of many religions. I understand that. But believe me, there 379 00:26:08,859 --> 00:26:11,100 Speaker 2: are people who believe in God who do not place 380 00:26:11,219 --> 00:26:15,379 Speaker 2: goodness at the center, and they and they produce bad people. God, 381 00:26:15,580 --> 00:26:19,260 Speaker 2: even God is not enough. I believe God's necessary, but 382 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:27,100 Speaker 2: not sufficient. Even there, goodness has to be stressed and battling, 383 00:26:27,340 --> 00:26:30,459 Speaker 2: battling oneself is of the essence and that's what I 384 00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:32,780 Speaker 2: was talking about. And now let's go to some more 385 00:26:32,899 --> 00:26:39,300 Speaker 2: of your calls here. Thomas Thomas in Minneapolis, Dennis Praeger High, Well. 386 00:26:39,580 --> 00:26:41,340 Speaker 6: I commend you on your show, and it's a it's 387 00:26:41,340 --> 00:26:46,060 Speaker 6: an interesting question. I have to disagree with you totally, 388 00:26:46,139 --> 00:26:50,060 Speaker 6: Dennis in this sense. Have you ever heard the expression 389 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:54,939 Speaker 6: the devil made me do it? Okay, So we don't 390 00:26:55,179 --> 00:27:00,139 Speaker 6: make people good. People are not made good and the 391 00:27:00,699 --> 00:27:06,939 Speaker 6: but what we can do is through through parentage, form 392 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:09,460 Speaker 6: the conscience of the child. 393 00:27:09,300 --> 00:27:09,859 Speaker 2: The same thing. 394 00:27:10,379 --> 00:27:11,939 Speaker 6: No, it's not, it's identical. 395 00:27:11,979 --> 00:27:13,179 Speaker 2: It's identical, and. 396 00:27:13,139 --> 00:27:14,059 Speaker 6: I don't want to get into that. 397 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:16,939 Speaker 2: All right, Well, well then then that then then you 398 00:27:17,060 --> 00:27:20,499 Speaker 2: realize then there's no call. Well, you're only differing with 399 00:27:20,699 --> 00:27:22,979 Speaker 2: me in the language you use. But we both believe. 400 00:27:23,020 --> 00:27:25,660 Speaker 2: You say form the child's conscious and I say make 401 00:27:25,699 --> 00:27:27,139 Speaker 2: the child good. What is the difference? 402 00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:31,259 Speaker 6: Well, because you can't impose goodness. 403 00:27:31,379 --> 00:27:33,299 Speaker 2: I didn't say you impose, I said, how do you 404 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:35,100 Speaker 2: make a good child? It's like how do you make 405 00:27:35,139 --> 00:27:37,020 Speaker 2: a good sculpture? How do you how do you make 406 00:27:37,060 --> 00:27:39,340 Speaker 2: a good cake from it? Yes, that's so. That's so 407 00:27:39,419 --> 00:27:41,379 Speaker 2: that we don't disagree at all. We just you use 408 00:27:41,459 --> 00:27:44,379 Speaker 2: the word form and I use the word make. That's it. 409 00:27:45,619 --> 00:27:49,139 Speaker 2: That's the whole difference. All right, folks, I hereby change 410 00:27:49,179 --> 00:27:51,739 Speaker 2: the title of this hour? How do you form a 411 00:27:51,739 --> 00:27:55,939 Speaker 2: good person? All right? Now? Thomas is with me all right? 412 00:27:55,939 --> 00:27:59,020 Speaker 2: E one eight Praguer seven seven six, and he questions 413 00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:02,020 Speaker 2: challenges one eight p R A G E R seven 414 00:28:02,179 --> 00:28:07,899 Speaker 2: seven six and over to Maggie in Corona, California. Maggie 415 00:28:07,899 --> 00:28:08,739 Speaker 2: Dennis Prague. 416 00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:11,500 Speaker 7: Yeah, how are you doing well? Good? I love your show, 417 00:28:11,540 --> 00:28:12,339 Speaker 7: by the way, thank you. 418 00:28:12,419 --> 00:28:12,939 Speaker 2: I love it too. 419 00:28:13,340 --> 00:28:16,059 Speaker 7: What I wanted to say is I have always taught 420 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:23,179 Speaker 7: my kids should we should a lot. For example, a 421 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:25,059 Speaker 7: normal thing that kids will do in the store is 422 00:28:25,060 --> 00:28:27,859 Speaker 7: they you know, they'll grab something, they'll touch it, and 423 00:28:27,899 --> 00:28:32,419 Speaker 7: I simply say, is that yours? We'll say no. I say, well, 424 00:28:32,459 --> 00:28:35,100 Speaker 7: then you should you be touching it? I say no, 425 00:28:36,139 --> 00:28:39,820 Speaker 7: and it's pretty much done. They've answered it for themselves 426 00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:43,780 Speaker 7: what not to do? They're pretty good. 427 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:52,140 Speaker 2: Listen, that's fine, folks. I don't believe there's only one methodology. 428 00:28:52,180 --> 00:28:55,140 Speaker 2: As you notice, I haven't even given any methodology yet. 429 00:28:55,260 --> 00:28:57,059 Speaker 2: All I have said is the first thing that we 430 00:28:57,140 --> 00:28:58,819 Speaker 2: have to do to make good people is know that 431 00:28:58,860 --> 00:29:01,860 Speaker 2: we have to make excuse me, form good people. And 432 00:29:02,060 --> 00:29:05,420 Speaker 2: that's number one. Number two is that we have to 433 00:29:05,420 --> 00:29:09,340 Speaker 2: make it the most important goal of society and of parents, 434 00:29:09,700 --> 00:29:13,620 Speaker 2: making good people. Nothing else will work, nothing else. By 435 00:29:13,660 --> 00:29:19,019 Speaker 2: focusing on quote social justice before making good people with character, 436 00:29:19,180 --> 00:29:23,059 Speaker 2: it's putting the cart before the whole. Social justice is 437 00:29:23,340 --> 00:29:29,420 Speaker 2: a product of good people. You make good people, they 438 00:29:29,459 --> 00:29:33,660 Speaker 2: will care about making a just society. But if you 439 00:29:33,739 --> 00:29:39,019 Speaker 2: don't build character, then social justice becomes a politicized term 440 00:29:39,540 --> 00:29:43,180 Speaker 2: and it doesn't achieve any goodness in society. First thing 441 00:29:43,420 --> 00:29:48,100 Speaker 2: is making good people, all right, So the next thing 442 00:29:48,219 --> 00:29:55,259 Speaker 2: is you need a code of behavior. You need a code. 443 00:29:55,420 --> 00:29:58,500 Speaker 2: It is not enough to rely You can't rely on 444 00:29:58,540 --> 00:30:05,019 Speaker 2: your heart. Well, child, I'm not going to tell you 445 00:30:05,020 --> 00:30:06,739 Speaker 2: what the right thing is. I want you to I 446 00:30:06,900 --> 00:30:10,539 Speaker 2: just want you to ask your own heart, consult with 447 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:12,819 Speaker 2: your own heart, and see what you come up with. 448 00:30:12,940 --> 00:30:17,180 Speaker 2: It is not sufficient. It may be helpful, but it 449 00:30:17,260 --> 00:30:23,380 Speaker 2: is hardly, hardly sufficient. My heart is uh is shaped 450 00:30:23,500 --> 00:30:28,940 Speaker 2: by my desires. And that's why I said you have 451 00:30:29,020 --> 00:30:31,140 Speaker 2: to battle yourself. That's the first thing you have to 452 00:30:31,180 --> 00:30:34,499 Speaker 2: teach a child and an adult. By the way, the 453 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:36,459 Speaker 2: things that we have to teach children are the same 454 00:30:36,459 --> 00:30:39,979 Speaker 2: things we have to teach adults. This notion that you know, 455 00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:42,980 Speaker 2: some notion that it only applies to children is absurd. 456 00:30:43,660 --> 00:30:46,420 Speaker 2: We have to teach ourselves to battle ourselves every day 457 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:48,340 Speaker 2: to be a good person. We have to remember that 458 00:30:48,420 --> 00:30:50,860 Speaker 2: goodness is number one in our own lives. Every day 459 00:30:50,900 --> 00:30:53,780 Speaker 2: we are, we have we have ethical battles all the time. 460 00:30:53,860 --> 00:30:56,540 Speaker 2: Will I will I fudge the rules to get a raise? 461 00:30:57,459 --> 00:31:00,180 Speaker 2: Will I will I lie in order to in order 462 00:31:00,260 --> 00:31:03,860 Speaker 2: to stay, not to to to to win, to win 463 00:31:03,940 --> 00:31:08,660 Speaker 2: some some coveted place, whether it's in politics or or 464 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:12,340 Speaker 2: in at the office or what have you. We are 465 00:31:12,380 --> 00:31:16,100 Speaker 2: we are confronted with with challenges to our character every day, 466 00:31:17,540 --> 00:31:21,980 Speaker 2: every day in every profession we are. We are challenged. Doctors, 467 00:31:22,020 --> 00:31:26,460 Speaker 2: our lawyers, our talk show hosts, are everybody eys. And 468 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:29,860 Speaker 2: to see life in those terms is a very good thing. 469 00:31:29,900 --> 00:31:32,620 Speaker 2: To see it in terms of good and bad, right 470 00:31:32,660 --> 00:31:35,819 Speaker 2: and wrong. Constantly, people fight that a lot because they 471 00:31:35,820 --> 00:31:38,340 Speaker 2: don't want to be bothered by it. But it's the 472 00:31:38,380 --> 00:31:40,620 Speaker 2: healthiest way to look at it. So we need a code. 473 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:44,940 Speaker 2: On another on another occasion, where does that code come from? 474 00:31:45,180 --> 00:31:50,380 Speaker 2: That's that's uh, that'll be on another occasion. Final segment 475 00:31:50,420 --> 00:31:55,100 Speaker 2: of this edition of the Ultimate Issues Hour, and I'd 476 00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,980 Speaker 2: be happy to take more calls and challenges at one 477 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:03,380 Speaker 2: eight Praguer seven seven six for the video the on 478 00:32:03,540 --> 00:32:06,219 Speaker 2: Goodness that I made call eight hundred two two five 479 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:09,780 Speaker 2: eighty five eighty four. Eight hundred two two five eighty 480 00:32:09,820 --> 00:32:14,140 Speaker 2: five eighty four. You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show. 481 00:32:14,540 --> 00:32:17,860 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 482 00:32:23,420 --> 00:32:27,020 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's time, my Swiss time. 483 00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:31,740 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show. You can download 484 00:32:31,739 --> 00:32:34,779 Speaker 2: this show and all my others at Prager radio dot com. 485 00:32:35,620 --> 00:32:38,819 Speaker 2: And this one is I wish you would because it 486 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:40,860 Speaker 2: is the most important issue in life, and that is 487 00:32:40,860 --> 00:32:44,580 Speaker 2: how to make good people. This is the Ultimate Issues Hour, 488 00:32:44,620 --> 00:32:46,700 Speaker 2: an hour each week devoted to some great issue of life, 489 00:32:46,739 --> 00:32:49,499 Speaker 2: and that is how do you make or form good people. 490 00:32:50,420 --> 00:32:54,860 Speaker 2: We go over to Charles in Denver, Charles, Dennis Prager High. 491 00:32:55,140 --> 00:32:56,860 Speaker 4: Hey, it's Breger. I got to tell you. I'm a 492 00:32:56,860 --> 00:33:01,420 Speaker 4: bookseller at a major bookstore, major chain store, and my 493 00:33:01,540 --> 00:33:04,219 Speaker 4: staff pick is happiness is a serious problem. 494 00:33:04,540 --> 00:33:04,780 Speaker 2: Oh. 495 00:33:04,900 --> 00:33:06,539 Speaker 4: I love seeing that go out the door. 496 00:33:06,820 --> 00:33:10,019 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. That obviously brings me great pleasure. 497 00:33:10,100 --> 00:33:10,420 Speaker 2: Thank you. 498 00:33:11,180 --> 00:33:13,739 Speaker 4: And my feeling is that it's a simple axiom that 499 00:33:13,900 --> 00:33:16,300 Speaker 4: as long as you try to bring happiness to other people, 500 00:33:16,340 --> 00:33:18,420 Speaker 4: as long as you think of other people before yourselves, 501 00:33:18,459 --> 00:33:19,940 Speaker 4: you cannot be a bad person. 502 00:33:19,979 --> 00:33:22,100 Speaker 2: Oh, I agree. The problem is how do you get 503 00:33:22,140 --> 00:33:25,260 Speaker 2: people to think about others first. That's not the natural, 504 00:33:25,340 --> 00:33:26,940 Speaker 2: that's not natural. I'm sorry. 505 00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:31,860 Speaker 4: Well, the responsibility is to yes, my example for your children, but. 506 00:33:31,860 --> 00:33:35,100 Speaker 2: I answered no, I answered the example issue. It's not enough. 507 00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:37,019 Speaker 2: They're children. 508 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:40,299 Speaker 4: If they see that as a natural way to act, 509 00:33:41,060 --> 00:33:44,259 Speaker 4: that they grow up feeling that. I wish I'm a dad. 510 00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:48,700 Speaker 2: You know what. You know what, Charles, thank you. I 511 00:33:48,739 --> 00:33:51,459 Speaker 2: am going to ask Alan to do this, Alan, I 512 00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:53,539 Speaker 2: would like to have it doesn't have to be an 513 00:33:53,580 --> 00:33:57,060 Speaker 2: ultimate issues hour. I would like to ask people, do 514 00:33:57,140 --> 00:34:00,140 Speaker 2: you know good people who have kids who were not good? 515 00:34:01,020 --> 00:34:05,220 Speaker 2: And I bet you our lines light up within ten seconds. 516 00:34:07,180 --> 00:34:10,060 Speaker 2: That's that's the thing. People that this is a myth. 517 00:34:11,060 --> 00:34:17,060 Speaker 2: People who are good will have good children. No, they 518 00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:20,940 Speaker 2: have a better chance than people who were bad. Of course, course, 519 00:34:21,980 --> 00:34:26,859 Speaker 2: of course, modeling is important. Again, it's it's it's necessary 520 00:34:26,940 --> 00:34:32,700 Speaker 2: but not sufficient. And so uh that's why I'm strong 521 00:34:32,819 --> 00:34:38,339 Speaker 2: on this. And the folks uh in this regard, never 522 00:34:38,540 --> 00:34:41,379 Speaker 2: use the word simple when it comes to goodness. It 523 00:34:41,460 --> 00:34:44,460 Speaker 2: is not simple to make good people. If it were simple, 524 00:34:45,380 --> 00:34:49,500 Speaker 2: the world would be in terrific, terrific shape. It's quite difficult. 525 00:34:51,620 --> 00:34:57,060 Speaker 2: In Floyd's Knobs, Indiana, Rob, Hello, Rob, Dennis Praeger, Hi. 526 00:34:56,980 --> 00:34:59,979 Speaker 8: Dennis, thanks taking my call. I agree with a lot 527 00:35:00,060 --> 00:35:02,580 Speaker 8: what you're saying. It seems like you are saying that 528 00:35:03,299 --> 00:35:04,700 Speaker 8: man is inherently evil. 529 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:08,499 Speaker 2: Well, no, not not good, but go ahead, Okay. 530 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:09,060 Speaker 5: Well. 531 00:35:10,299 --> 00:35:12,300 Speaker 8: I want to come back to that. But in hearing 532 00:35:12,339 --> 00:35:15,180 Speaker 8: you talk more, I wanted to throw something at you. 533 00:35:15,259 --> 00:35:19,660 Speaker 8: And that and that is a a non subjective definition 534 00:35:20,339 --> 00:35:22,660 Speaker 8: of good knee or of evil anyway. 535 00:35:22,859 --> 00:35:25,899 Speaker 2: And oh you know all right that I have to 536 00:35:25,980 --> 00:35:27,779 Speaker 2: I have to hold on for for the next time 537 00:35:27,779 --> 00:35:30,859 Speaker 2: we do that. Let me just leave you and forgive me, Rob. 538 00:35:31,020 --> 00:35:33,339 Speaker 2: Let me just leave you again. Number One, we have 539 00:35:33,420 --> 00:35:35,779 Speaker 2: to remember we have to make good people. They have 540 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,419 Speaker 2: to be formed. That doesn't come naturally. Number two, it 541 00:35:38,460 --> 00:35:40,899 Speaker 2: has to be the number one priority. Number three, you 542 00:35:40,940 --> 00:35:43,820 Speaker 2: have to teach people to battle themselves. The ultimate issues 543 00:35:43,859 --> 00:35:45,180 Speaker 2: hour on the Dennis Prager Show. 544 00:35:54,140 --> 00:35:58,460 Speaker 1: This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit dennisprager 545 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:02,020 Speaker 1: dot com for thousands of hours if Dennis's lectures, courses, 546 00:36:02,060 --> 00:36:06,739 Speaker 1: and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles,