# A Treatise On Honor

##### Author: Kane Hikaru kanehikaru [Discord]
https://t.me/dat1guyoverthere [Telegram]

### Question 1: Honor. What is it? Well, basically, it's a code to live by, often considered what is the right, or correct, way to live. Honor is often connected to a feeling of respect and esteem and honor eventually becomes a tradition, like in the case of 2 of the most famous systems of honor in all of human history: The Bushido Code and the Code of Chivalry. Both Bushido and Chivalry are based on combat, knights and samurai, but they also have a way to live your life. This treatise will be focusing on the best way for a human to live their life. ### Question 2: Why is having a code important? Without a set of rules to live by, the world would be ruled by base impulses and desire. To be fair to humans, many people have the impulse and desire to help others and live their lives in the service of the public, however, that is not always the case, hence a set of rules. Arguably, the reason why human beings are able to build civilizations and create beautiful works of art is because of the rules we have placed on our society. Now, having laws is important, they define what we can and can't do, but law does not outline what we should and shouldn't do. Our ethics and morality comes from our families, our religious centers, and our communities, ranging from the neighborhood to what political party you belong to and beyond. Because of this, everyone has a different idea on how best to live their lives. Over thousands of years, great thinkers and philosophers have pondered how to live. Because each of them lived in vastly different societies, they differed a lot, but each also agreed a lot too.
That’s the thing about philosophy, it is the world’s longest discussion. From Socrates and Aristotle in the 5th century to Kant in the mid to late 1700s, all the way to right now, thinkers have pondered so much about the world. Getting back to the main question, the reason it’s important to have a code is because we want to be good. Aristotle was the first to put forth that there are 4 types of character in this world, the Righteous, the Continent, the Incontinent, and the Vicious. Most people are either Continent or Incontinent, however, humans should strive to all be Righteous. The Righteous person not only knows what the correct action is, but also wants to take that action. We should all strive to understand what the right action is and we should all want to take said action.
Of course, there will always be people who falter, or only take the right action because they know they should, even if they don't want to, that is human nature, but through the act of trying, we elevate ourselves beyond that which we once were, and by having a code to live by, we can limit our dalliance into only doing that which is right because we should, or even going beyond and becoming Incontinent, or worse, Vicious. ### Question 3: Why is the code of honor proposed in this text the right one? Never said it was. It could be that I am completely wrong, however, I have lived my life up to this point and I have developed the following code as the culmination of my life’s experiences and understandings. I have studied philosophy, not nearly as much as some, but enough to make an informed opinion. I have studied law, again, not nearly as much as some, but enough to understand the mechanics of law. I have studied history, science, math, various trades, and art. I have been in both peace and conflict. I have experienced love and hate. I have had a roof over my head and food in my belly and I have lived on the streets. I don't claim to know all, but I do claim that I do my level best to follow my code. I know many useless and random facts, and it all, along with all my combined life experiences, has come together into the code of honor I now propose.

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### Code of Honor

*Created for the purpose of establishing the most honorable, noble, and moral way to conduct oneself.* 1. Do no harm, but take no shit. 2. Noblesse Oblige. It is the duty of those in power to protect those under them. 3. Never make a promise you don't intend to keep and never swear an oath you cannot keep. 4. Never lie unnecessarily. 5. When you are entrusted with a secret, it is your duty to keep it.

**Addendum**: If a rumor is being spread, quash it, if a lie is being told, reveal it, and if keeping the secret would hurt you, share it.

6. Hold your heroes, leaders, and figures of authority to a higher standard. 7. Never give up your rights as a person or citizen. 8. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. 9. If you're early, you're on time, if you're on time, you're late, if you're late, don't bother. 10. Be the shield of those who cannot protect themselves. Do not idle while life is threatened. 11. If there is something wrong or unjust, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action. 12. You create your own family, regardless of blood. 13. Unless given a reason not to, believe your family loves you and holds the best for you in their heart. 14. Family, be it one of blood or design, is the most important thing in your life and must be cherished.

**Addendum**: It is a parent’s duty to be the family of their child until the child is an adult and can choose for themselves.

15. No man chooses their lineage, their skin, their national origin, or who they love. Keep this in mind when finding a reason to hate. 16. Never let the pursuit of wealth interfere with the pursuit of life, but never let the pursuit of life leave you hungry and without shelter. 17. Be it what you owe or what is owed to you, all debts must be paid. 18. Trust, but verify. 19. Never forget harm brought upon you. Forgive if you can, but seek not revenge, only justice. 20. Hard times breed hard Men, hard Men create peace, peace begets weak men, and weak men create hard times. Therefore, be hard, but always kind, be at peace, but never let peace make you soft. 21. It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in war. Hope for peace, but be prepared for conflict. 22. The sins of the father do not fall upon the son, for each are their own man. 23. Don't let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be. 24. Manners maketh man. 25. Honor those who lend their lives to the service of the nation, but never honor blindly. 26. Respect those who came before you, but not blindly. 27. Never cease the pursuit of learning. 28. Man cannot remake himself without suffering for he is both the marble and the sculptor. 29. Give charitably, so long as you are able. 30. Treat others as you would want to be treated and do not treat others as you would not want to be treated. 31. Take responsibility for your own thoughts, emotions, and actions for you can control them. 32. Treat laborers with the same respect as their leaders. 33. Never miss an opportunity to express yourself. Life moves by in a flash, one minute it's there and the next it's gone. It is the height of honor to let those you love know it, and know it often, for you never know what will happen next.

\page ### Deep Dive: Rule 1 ***Do no harm, but take no shit.***

The very first part of my code is to do no harm. This means both physical and mental harm. It is inescapable to do some harm, but by striving to live around the ideal of not harming anyone, and by them holding the same ideal in their heart, we can all see less suffering in the world. Part 2 says “but take no shit”. This means that no one should be able to use your not harming them as a means to controlling you. If someone uses the idea that by not obeying them that you are harming them, they are harming you. This also applies to those who would forgo not harming. It is your natural right and imperative to defend yourself, mind, body, and soul. Basically, if someone approaches you with the intent of causing you mental or physical harm, you should defend yourself. Not necessarily to their harm or worse, but just to prevent your own. However, if their harm is inescapable, so be it. ### Deep Dive: Rule 2 ***Noblesse Oblige. It is the duty of those in power to protect those under them.***

People are all born fundamentally different. You could be born with a more physically fit body than average, you could be born with a higher base intelligence, or you could be born into a situation with more resources than others. This is not to be admonished, but celebrated. The fact we are born all different, but all still human together, is part of the feeling of life. But, because of this, those who are either born with power or those who obtain it through their actions have a duty to protect those without. This all goes back to the very first contract that was ever established for all humankind. Tens of thousands of years ago, when humanity was first beginning, a strong human and a weak human formed an understanding. The strong shall hunt and protect the weak while the weak takes care of the children, takes care of the home, gathers food, and feeds the strong. Together, the strong and the weak formed a society. We know this from the very first sign of society in our understanding of the ancient world: the mended femur. In the wild, when a femur breaks, it normally means death. The broken human would be in too much pain to be able to take care of itself, or even worse, run away (if the bone was part of the legs or hips for example). A bone which was broken and then mended is often the first sign that another stood by and watched over the broken human until they were healed. This, being the very first sign of society, is also the very first sign of the social contract. The strong did not abandon the one who was broken, nor did they just kill them outright to take what was theirs. The strong stood by them and nursed them back to health. This is the very essence of Noblesse Oblige, the Noble Obligation, to take care of those under you for they are your responsibility. ### Deep Dive: Rule 3 ***Never make a promise you don't intend to keep and never swear an oath you cannot keep.***

There is an inherent difference between a promise and an oath. A good definition of a promise is “a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen” (Google search: define promise). This means that your word is your bond. By declaring that something will or will not happen, it shall be by your hand. If you have no intention of keeping the promises you make, then make no promises. Without your word as your bond, how can you be trusted? If you constantly break promises, who would trust you? Not I. Not many people I would imagine. This is why this is part of the code, to remind us the power of our word. However, in the end, if it is out of your control, for example, you promise to be on time and you leave earlier than normal, but there is blockage stopping up the road, that is not your fault. You have no control. If you cannot keep a promise, give those you promised an explanation why as soon as you are able. Should they be reasonable and understanding, they will forgive you for that which you cannot control. There is also another aspect of the promise to consider: the degree. There are 2 things to consider when making and maintaining a promise, the impact on the life of who you made the promise to and the severity of unknown situations. A perfect example of this would be birthday parties.

\page If you promise your friend that you will attend his birthday party, do all you can to uphold the promise, be a bit early, dress for the occasion, clean yourself, and buy a present. This is all to uphold the promise. However, the day of, only an hour before the party, you get a call from the hospital about your mother. She was in a car wreck. She is unconscious and, as her emergency contact, you need to come in. You would want to be with your mother, yes? Any person would. So, you call your friend and tell him what happened. Before you break your promise, ask permission to break it. Your friend will most likely understand and release you from your bond, but what if he doesn't? Is it still right to go to your mother? The answer is yes. Think of the 2 considerations. Will your friend be severely impacted by your lack of attendance? Most likely not, and is the severity of the unknown situation so great as to supersede your friend’s birthday party? Very much so, yes. When even considering breaking a promise, consider both the impact on the lives of the people involved and the urgency of the unknown situation. If you feel that it would be warranted to break your word, then do it, but do it very sparingly.
An Oath, however, is vastly different from a promise. A promise is much more mundane and about the day to day. An Oath is unbreakable. By committing to an oath, you pledge your very existence on the subject of that oath. Knights of old would often swear an oath of fealty to their king. This oath would typically be to pledge their service and life to the kingdom and their king. This meant that said knight would do as commanded by their king, no matter the request. Should the king order the knight to his death, the oath of fealty would compel the knight to die in the manner ordered by the king. However, that is the old world. Nowadays, a more common oath to take is the oath of marriage. Agreed upon by 2 people in love to continue to love each other, often in sickness and in health, until death do them part. This means that, by swearing the oath of marriage, 2 people are bonded in love from then on.
Only the one you swore an oath to may release you from the oath. Not by accident, not by intention shall you break your oath. Only if you are forced, beyond your power, shall you ever even consider breaking your oath. Never swear an oath that you are not able to keep.
Be warned of those who would try and extract an oath that would cause you harm. This can come in many forms, too many to list, but understand what you are swearing to before you swear it. Understand the intentions of your oath keeper and think every oath through. An oath extracted from you without your consent is not an oath. It is harm done to you. Refer to rule 1 as to the necessary actions to take when harm is done. ### Deep Dive: Rule 4 ***Never lie unnecessarily.***

This one should be easy. Don't tell a lie. That's kind of it. I mean, lie to save your life or that of another, but that's about as far as it goes. Also, don't lie when you are under oath in a court of law. That is a crime. Do not commit a crime.
This extends to everyday life as well. Your loved one may ask if they look good in their clothes. Even if they look hideous, don't lie. It's unnecessary and rather cruel.
Going back to lying to prevent harm. If you must speak falsely in order to prevent harm, yours or anyone else's, do so. Lying is sometimes, but very rarely, necessary. Always remember to think before deciding to lie because a lie is hard to maintain and a lie poisons you in ways that are often unforeseen. ### Deep Dive: Rule 5 ***When you are entrusted with a secret, it is your duty to keep it.***

This rule often causes problems, hence the Addendum: If a rumor is being spread, quash it, if a lie is being told, reveal it, and if keeping the secret would cause harm, share it.

First off, rule 5 and rule 3 are often intertwined. If you are trusted with a secret, it is often implied that you have given your word to not share the secret. This implication must be recognized as what it is, a promise. As per Rule 3, you keep your word, however, there is an important exception, the addendum. The addendum is referencing Rule 4. A rumor, most likely being untrue, is a lie. Don't lie, but this goes beyond that. Challenge the lie until the truth comes forth. Additionally, if a secret you have been told would cause harm, as per rule 1, share the secret.

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Finally, there is another, more rare exception to this rule. Even if it causes you no harm, physical or psychological, even if you swore an oath to keep the secret, you should never keep a secret that could be connected to a crime. For example, let's say you are a catholic priest and, during confession, a person tells you that they have committed a terrible crime. Not a crime against the church, but one against the laws of the land. Let’s say that you, a priest, took confession for a murderer, one who has not been caught. You swore an oath, you took a vow, to keep the sanctity of confession. It is your belief that this confession leads to a road to salvation through god. Should you reveal what you learned in confession to the law? Should you tell the police that you know exactly who the murderer is? By every understanding of your faith, the answer is no, however, this actually conflicts with rule 11. Is it wrong or unjust to let a murderer, even if it was by accident, get away with murder? The simple answer is yes. It is wrong, it is unjust, to let the veil of confession to so influence your actions as to let someone who took another's life get away with such a horrific crime. While the catholic church is mentioned by name in this deep dive, there are other organizations who would extract an oath of secrecy, such as the FBI or CIA. It is the moral duty of members of any organization, no matter their reach, no matter their influence, to break that oath in matters such as this. If someone knows of a crime, but are somehow bound by oath or promise to never reveal who committed that crime, that person has the moral obligation to let the truth ring free for all to hear.
I expect this rule to be one of the hardest and most difficult rules to follow. ### Deep Dive: Rule 6 ***Hold your heroes, leaders, and figures of authority to a higher standard.***

This rule has a direct link to Rule 2, but from the other side of the coin. As someone who has a ruler, a king, a prime minister, a president, or any form of leader, we are to be protected by them, and therefore, we must hold them to a higher standard from the rest. By assuming the role of leader, they are pledging their lives to the service of the community. Only the Righteous (From Question 2) should have the authority to lead for, through their example, they bring those they rule, us, closer to Righteousness. Anyone who puts themselves up on high as our leaders or our heroes need to be better. Because of this, it is our duty, the duty of the ruled, to watch our leaders. We must be willing to take the power from someone who has begun to abuse that power.
We have a duty to elect our leaders mindfully. When casting your ballot for the one you think will lead you best, do so with as much understanding of the person as you are able. Learn what they stand for and study their history as a leader. Hear their words and see if their actions align. All this said, we need our leaders. We need people to make major decisions on our behalf. We must focus on ourselves and our own so we cannot concern ourselves greatly with matters beyond the selfish. While we have a duty to understand our leaders, and change them as necessary, we also have a duty to put ourselves first so we can be together in a society. ### Deep Dive: Rule 7 ***Never give up your rights as a person or citizen.***

This rule harkens back to Rule 6 and Rule 1, but as a contingency. Every time a person’s natural right or their rights as a citizen are being threatened, it is almost always by our leaders. When leaders become corrupt and evil, it is the duty of the people to act in their own defense (rule 1). This defense could be as simple as voting for someone else the next time that is possible or as intense as a revolt. It is the duty of every person to defend their own rights so if your rights are being taken from you, take them back. This supersedes Rule 1 almost every time. By taking your rights, the takers are harming you in a way that is far beyond the normal. Do what you must to protect your rights and the rights of others, but always keep Rule 1 in mind. Try not to harm, but don't allow your rights to be overtaken by your not harming anyone. This would normally be where this treatise tells you your human rights or your rights as a citizen. As a citizen, you have all your human rights and any extra rights either recognized or granted by the nation you are in. So, what is a human right? There are very conflicting views on what is a human right, sometimes even within the same political group. I have alluded to a few within these rules, the most important being Life.

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All sentient beings have a right to be alive. The right to life is a negative right, or liberty. There are also positive rights, called entitlements but what are negative and positive rights? The difference between negative vs positive rights is that one requires action while the other requires inaction. Negative rights are the requirements of someone else not to interfere in your ability to obtain or keep something. Positive rights are a requirement of someone else to provide you with something. You may hear negative rights referred to as “liberties,” and that’s because they are basic human and civil rights stating that no one can interfere with our right to obtain something through trade or bartering. Positive rights are often called “entitlements” because they are things that someone must provide to us, whether we’ve earned them or not. We don’t have to do anything to obtain positive rights; they’re granted to us.
Examples of liberties versus entitlements are as follows: (This is a small list, but I hope it illustrates the general differences between Libterties and Entittlements) | Liberties | Entitlements | |:----------|:------------:| |Life|Health Care| |Self Defence|An Attorney (in reference to American jurisprudence)| |Freedom Of Speech|The Right to a Public and Speedy Trial (in reference to American criminal jurisprudence)| |Property Rights |The legal system to reclaim stolen property or appropriate compensation ### Deep Dive: Rule 8 ***We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.***

This is both a rule and a direct quote. Elie Wiesel said it best when he said these most powerful words. Mr. Wiesel survived one of the greatest tragedies that has ever befallen humankind, the Holocaust. During the 1930s-1940s, a powerful man abused his power to the extreme. He formed a new political group and assassinated, lied, and cheated his way to become leader of his nation. His entire premise for power was that the world has been corrupted by the jewish people and they must be stopped. Hitler rounded up millions of jews and had us slaughtered. He also targeted anyone who was slightly different from his ideal man: the Aryan. Hitler also targeted people with disabilities, people of different skin color, homosexuals, and anyone who held different beliefs. Hitler believed that Aryans were the purest form of humanity and the ubermensch, a concept developed by Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th/20th century philosopher. Nietzsche would have agreed with Rule 2 I think. Elie Wiesel suffered through the Holocaust and survived. Over the many decades since that horrible time, Elie Wiesel spoke out against what had happened and spoke this quote, which has now become Rule 8 in this Honor Code. Referencing back to Rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, Rule 8 is a culmination of each when power is corrupted by those in charge. Basically, always stand up to oppression and never let an oppressor do harm unto others while you are able to interfere. ### Deep Dive: Rule 9 ***If you're early, you're on time, if you're on time, you're late, if you're late, don't bother.***

Referencing back to Rule 3, when you say you will be at a location, be there when you said you would. To add, always be a bit early if you can. It is better to have to wait a few minutes to enter than to be rushing in as the clock strikes the appointed time, or worse, running in late after. It not only breaks a promise, but it is unprofessional and it shows those you meet with that you don't believe their time is as important as your own. The reason this is a separate rule than Rule 3 is because of how important this promise really is and how often this promise is made. Even saying “yeah, i'll be there at (insert time here)” is a promise and it is understood that by making this promise, you are actually saying that you will place a value on the other person’s time and that value is your word. Reference back to Rule 3 if you need to break your word. ### Deep Dive: Rule 10 ***Be the shield of those who cannot protect themselves. Do not idle while life is threatened.***

Basically, if you are able to intervene in the death of another, do so, so long as your own life is secured. This applies to all, not just those who have sworn to protect and serve. A police officer has a higher duty to protect the lives of those who need it, but you and I, as people, have a duty to help protect life whenever possible. Life is a precious thing and must be given our utmost to defend it. This actually is an extension of the very first social contract (the small history bit in rule 2). As society grew and more and more cave people gathered together, it was no longer just the strong who protected the weak, it was now also the clever. Even the weak protected each other, and even the strong and the clever on occasion.

\page With everybody defending each other, while there are the strong to protect the weak, we now had everyone protecting everyone else, not just for the sake of survival, but because of human empathy, compassion, and understanding. ### Deep Dive: Rule 11 ***If there is something wrong or unjust, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action.***

Referencing back to Rules 2,7, and 10, this rule goes beyond just life. There are many things that are wrong in the world and it is the duty of those who can take action to do so. Going back to Rule 8, hesitation often leads to suffering. Personally, for me, I believe that it is unjust for a government to use death as a means of deterring crime or as a punishment for a crime. This means I am against the death penalty, no matter what crime was committed. The reason for this goes back to Rules 1, 2, 7, 8, and 10. By executing someone for their crimes, you cause them intense harm. By killing a criminal, a leader may believe that they are putting the wellbeing of the many above that of the few or the one, but in reality, the leader is just ending a life which could have been redeemed. By allowing yourself to die at the hands of the state, how are you able to have rights? By not preventing the death of a criminal, a tyrannical leader could expand (and often does) the term criminal to include those who might oppose them. And finally, a criminal cannot protect themselves against the hand of justice so we must be their voices, for they are still humans and deserve the same basic respect that all humans do.
Fighting for justice is often a double edged sword however. Many times, when fighting for justice, (social, political, legal, or other) the fighters for justice lose sight of the justice they seek and become oppressors to “balance out the scales''. This means that while seeking to make things truly equal and equitable, a group seeking justice might find that they are taking things too far. For example, in the Black Lives Matter movement, they seek to show America and the world that Black people have just as much value as White people and, while their original ideology is understandable and to be encouraged, their actions often tell us a different story. The organization has put black people above white people and begun 2 very disturbing trends, black supremacy and a hatred for white people.
The same problem can be seen in the modern feminist movement. Feminism started with the Women's Suffrage movement so that all women in America had the right to vote. Then came the second wave of feminism in the 60s which centered around sexual liberation and showing the world that women had the same value as men, both culturally and in the workforce. The modern wave of feminism began with the idea that, while we have all come a long way, there is still much work to be done to make men and women truly equal. However, this quickly devolved into hating men for a surprising large portion of modern feminists. This is another example of the scales out of balance. In the current era, it is practically a sin to be white and male. This is not how it should go, after all, it is often said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Peace and love for all humankind is what is required to move forward in our society. Fighting for justice is good when injustice occurs, however, as long as the scales are unbalanced, the fight must always continue. ### Deep Dive: Rule 12 ***You create your own family, regardless of blood.***

There is an old phrase: Blood is thicker than water. This is often interpreted to mean that blood family is more important than anything else. However, this is an incomplete quote. The full quote is Blood of the covenant is thicker than the Water of the womb. This full quote means that the bonds you create in life supersede those born of blood. Your blood family means nothing if you don't accept them as your family. You create your own family, regardless of blood. This is often lost on people who don't know the full phrase, so much so that toxic relationships within blood families are the driving force for suffering, often causing the younger generations the most pain. The misinterpretation has practically forced people to stay with and support people they hate just because they are blood relatives. This leads to resentment, PTSD, suffering, and hatred. This is why this rule exists. We create our families. We create the bonds that we so cherish above and beyond all others. These bonds can be through blood, however, they do not have to be.

\page ### Deep Dive: Rule 13 ***Unless given a reason not to, believe your family loves you and holds the best for you in their heart.***

This just means that you should trust those you love. Refer back to Rule 12 for who you love. However, do not love blindly. If a loved one has shown that they are willing to cause you harm, it is good to question their position in your family. Do not let those who would do you harm in your life. This could easily mean a conversation about a single incident, but it could be as drastic as cutting them out of your life. Do this with caution for once a tie is severed, it is extremely difficult to repair it, should it even be desired. ### Deep Dive: Rule 14 ***Family, be it one of blood or design, is the most important thing in your life and must be cherished. Addendum: It is a parent’s duty to be the family of their child until the child is an adult and can choose for themselves.***

Referring back to rules 12 and 13, your family, however you choose to design it, is the most important thing in your life. There are a number of reasons for this, chief among them is the need for socialization. Human beings have a basic biological need to be social and your family satisfies that need. Not everyone needs the same levels of socialization, but we all (generally speaking) need at least a little bit. [Side note: the need for socialization is the reason behind many nations around the world ban the use of solitary confinement as a form of punishment]. Humans also have a need for acceptance, normally also provided primarily by family and/or community.
Additionally, in the distant past, the family unit was used for protection. This could be protection from other units (or tribes), wild animals, and even nature. You are more likely to survive a natural disaster if you have help, normally provided by your tribe. Finally, your family does more than just help you survive, socialize, and feel accepted, they also help with problems you might have. This could be as simple as moving to dealing with a major dilemma. Family is an extremely useful and wonderful thing to have in anyone’s life.
In regards to the addendum: If 2 people choose to or accidently bring life into this world, they are wholly responsible for it or they are responsible for making sure the child is well taken care of. Applying to all children (realistically anyone under the age of roughly 21), a child’s parents have a duty to be the child’s family. Generally, this works out without too much issue, but there are many parents out there who are pushing their children into a life that is terrible for them. There are too many parents who are treating their children like a burden or a tool to be used and/or ignored, especially when not “useful”. A child is, quite literally, the most vulnerable type of human that exists. Children are inherently unable to process the world properly and it is up to the parents to provide guidance, protection, context, and understanding. Additionally, a parent must show love to the child and help them learn about the world around them. A baby barely has the capability to hold its head up, even after 6 months.
Communicating, walking, retaining any information, and much more is impossible for a baby and a parent is, without any question, absolutely responsible for ensuring the child’s safety, even if that means hiring someone else to do the work. No matter what, the work needs to be done, be it by the parents or a guardian the parents choose. Because this issue is such a large one, the addendum could be a rule unto itself, however, that is not necessary because it falls so neatly within Rule 14.
Children are inherently unable to process the world properly and it is up to the parents to provide guidance, protection, context, and understanding. Additionally, a parent must show love to the child and help them learn about the world around them. A baby barely has the capability to hold its head up, even after 6 months. Communicating, walking, retaining any information, and much more is impossible for a baby and a parent is, without any question, absolutely responsible for ensuring the child’s safety, even if that means hiring someone else to do the work. No matter what, the work needs to be done, be it by the parents or a guardian the parents choose. Because this issue is such a large one, the addendum could be a rule unto itself, however, that is not necessary because it falls so neatly within Rule 14.

\page ### Deep Dive: Rule 15 ***No man chooses their lineage, their skin, their national origin, or who they love. Keep this in mind when finding a reason to hate.***

This world is fraught with hate and tribalism. No one chooses who came before them, nor the color of their skin, what nation they hail from, or who or how they love. Hating someone for these aspects leads to uncontrollable tribalism and strife, sometimes even war. If you need to hate someone, at least try to do so because of their actions, not something beyond their control. This applies to our leaders even more so. They must not hate any group of people who have no control for how they got into that group. If a man is black, he was born that way. He had no control over his skin. If a man has a criminal for a father, he has no control over that and I doubt he would want that. The Sins of the Father do not fall upon the son. No man can control if he is gay or what nation he or his family hail from. These are all examples of uncontrollable factors and no law proposed or created should ever target these uncontrollable factors in a negative way, nor should any law proposed or created ever benefit one uncontrolled factor while also harming another factor. ### Deep Dive: Rule 16 ***Never let the pursuit of wealth interfere with the pursuit of life, but never let the pursuit of life leave you hungry and without shelter.***

Basically, money enough to live on is extremely important, but never forget that which makes you happy. Doing a job shouldn't make you hate yourself and it shouldn’t suck the soul from you, but you need to live. Living is not just surviving, it's enjoying life, finding pleasure, and finding that which makes you feel alive. Finding this extremely delicate balance is the duty of every person. The reason why this is a duty is because of one simple thing: No one in life will just hand you everything you ever wanted for free. There is always some ulterior motive for something as generous as that. There is one exception to this: parents. Referencing back to rule 14, the parents of a child are duty bound, and hopefully bound by the bonds of love and family, to provide for the child. This duty to one’s own child is not a debt incurred, it is not to be given with any expectation of being compensated, this duty is wholly the responsibility of the parent/guardian and the child is always free from responsibility to pay any of it back. I, myself, want to take care of my family, including my mother, and so, I will provide for her, my brother, and any future family I might have. I choose this, not out of duty, but out of love. I love my family and I want the best for them. If I can help them, I will. ### Deep Dive: Rule 17 ***Be it what you owe or what is owed to you, all debts must be paid.***

A gift is a gift, but a debt is a debt and all debts must be paid. Debt can mean anything from money to a life debt. Anytime you owe someone anything, do what you are able to pay them back. If you borrow money, make sure that you are going to be able to pay it back in a timely manner and work with the one you borrowed from to ensure that you never leave a debt unpaid. Now, if someone owes you a debt, work with them to have their debt paid off. Always be clear as to the nature of the debt and make sure that the debtor understands this in full. If they need more time to pay you that which they owe, give them reasonable time. Be kind, but firm, with those who owe you a debt. Work with them, but make it clear that a debt is owed. Because of this, never lend to someone who cannot or will not pay you back.
If you are lending, what you give is what you will receive back, no more, no less. This must stand firm for one simple reason: you don't take advantage of someone who has less than you. ***Refer to rule: 29 when deciding whether or not you will give a gift or lend with the understanding that a debt is owed.***
Additionally, a debt shall never be used as an abuse of the lendee. No lender shall now or ever use a debt yet to be paid as the excuse for causing harm to the lendee, physical, mental, financial, or social. Without this, why would anyone want to borrow from someone who would do them harm?

\page ### Deep Dive: Rule 18 ***Trust, but verify.***

Some things in the world are clear on its face. The sky is blue. Grass is green. 2+2=4. There are undeniable facts of the world. However, most things are more nuanced. This is often what philosophers discuss. If someone tells you something, trust that they are not lying to you. Trusting your fellow man is trusting yourself, but also be wary of blind trust. Accepting information without following up and checking for yourself is a disservice to yourself and all people everywhere. You accept something as fact without checking and you tell others. Those others tell others and soon so many people have accepted a falsehood as fact that it becomes true in the eyes of the deceived. If you know something to be untrue, speak out against it. If someone tells you something that doesn't seem right, look into it. If someone you trust tells you something, accept that they aren't lying, but check it. ### Deep Dive: Rule 19 ***Never forget harm brought upon you. Forgive if you can, but seek not revenge, only justice.*** The world is unfair by default. Therefore, there may be times when another person brings you harm and it is your duty to remember. Remember the actions of others, both good and bad. When someone brings harm upon you, consider the why of it all. Why did they hurt you? Were they forced to? Try and put yourself in their perspective. Once you understand why, then you can begin the real healing process. If he who has brought harm to you did so unwillingly, try and forgive. Understand why he had no choice in the matter. Be it an accident, understand that. However, if you must gain compensation for the harm brought to you, do so legally. Go through the system and gain your justice. Revenge harms you just as it might harm he that harmed you. If they harmed you intentionally, you may choose to forgive them, but you do not have to. Purposeful harm brought upon you is the most egregious form of harm for one simple reason: they made the conscious choice to hurt you and therefore do not value you the same as they would value someone who they would not harm, themselves included.
For example, murder. It's clearly a serious crime and a great harm unto a person and the loved ones of the murdered, but how can murder be even close to justified? The answer is quite simple actually and it is often codified within legal systems, the intentional taking of the life of another to prevent that other from doing even more harm. Basically, killing in the name of defending yourself or others. It's the most extreme form of self defense, but it does happen every day. This form of killing is often fraught with legal, social, and mental troubles. If self defense is the reason for harm or death, those close to the one killed sometimes feel compelled to seek justice or revenge. Since the death was caused by the now dead individual, there is no justice to be sought, so many turn to revenge, especially in professional criminal organizations. This issue is the exact reason for the old stories like Romeo and Juliet or the Hatfields and the Mccoys and stories like those are the reason for Rule 19. ### Deep Dive: Rule 20 ***Hard times breed hard Men, hard Men create peace, peace begets weak men, and weak men create hard times. Therefore, be hard, but always kind, be at peace, but never let peace make you soft.***

Basically, adversity brings people closer and gives them strength. When adversity is overcome, peace reigns. Peace does not give people the same closeness or strength that adversity does so people become weak. This weakness brings about hard times due to lack of understanding. This cycle is as old as civilization and has often destroyed entire cultures. Because of this, Always try to be peaceful, but always remember the hard times. Educate yourself and your neighbors on the suffering of the past, for those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. ### Deep Dive: Rule 21 ***It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in war. Hope for peace, but be prepared for conflict.***

This ideal is the same as Rule 20 and so much more as well. This rule includes the idea that one should always be ready to take up arms in the defence of those who need it the most, but be at peace and strive for peace as much as possible.

\page ### Deep Dive: Rule 22 ***The sins of the father do not fall upon the son, for each are their own man.***

Alongside the ideals of Rule 15, when someone causes harm to another, it is his responsibility alone to correct the mistake. The child of he who caused the harm bears no responsibility for the harm. The child may make amends, but at his own leisure. Never force the child to suffer for the crimes of the parent. This applies to all friendships and relationships as well. No one is responsible for the singular crimes that others commit. No one shall be made to suffer as the representative of a family, group, people, race, or nation. However, choosing to associate with a criminal may lead others to believe that you condone the criminal actions. You may believe this of others as well. This is not always the case and each instance must be examined on its own merits. ### Deep Dive: Rule 23 ***Don't let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.***

Basically, if all you do is want to do something, then nothing will get done. Do something, don't just sit around and wait for something to happen, good or bad. Complacency kills. ### Deep Dive: Rule 24 ***Manners maketh man.***

Society has determined that there are things that elevate a person to obtain a higher standing. These are manners. Such as, in some Asian nations, it is good manners to slurp your food to show that you can't wait to compose yourself before eating such delicious food. The opposite is often true in western cultures. Manners are a way to conduct yourself to be polite in society and therefore, keeping up with your manners is a good way to conduct yourself in your society. While manners are important, they are not the end-all-be-all of being a good person. It’s just a good thing to keep in your mind when dealing with cultures from around the world and your own. ``` ``` ### Deep Dive: Rule 25 ***Honor those who lend their lives to the service of the nation, but never honor blindly.***

There are people who lend their lives to the service and protection of their nation. Soldiers, Police, Firefighters, Emergency personnel, and many more. Those who do so should have the respect of the position. However, they are now under the effects of Rule 6. They are our leaders and protectors, and must be held to the higher standard that comes with that position. Respect them for their service, but do not do so when they abuse their authority. ### Deep Dive: Rule 26 ***Respect those who came before you, but not blindly.***

Almost every culture that has developed on earth has some variant of respecting your elders. This is no different. People who came before us often have insights into the things we do. We must accept their wisdom and use it in the context of our ever changing society. We do not have to blindly follow their words. We must trust they mean well, but we must verify that their words of wisdom align with our values. It's also a good thing to visit your elder family. Often they lose their friends and family in such old age. They helped to bring you into this world and raise you. Do them the service of visiting them. There is an exception to this: Rule 12. ### Deep Dive: Rule 27 ***Never cease the pursuit of learning.***

Given the very nature of humanity, we always learn something. Millions are in schools and colleges all over the world and millions more study on their own. They do what is normally considered learning, however, everyone learns something, even if it's something they already know. The child learns what it means to eat too much sugar and get sick. A man learns what it means to experience a heart attack. People experience things every day and they have the unique opportunity to learn from them. Humans learn all the time and we should strive to do so intentionally. Through this learning, we better ourselves and those around us ,and we should always be better than we once were. This holds especially true for those under Rules 2 and 6. It is the duty of leaders to always provide the most excellent example for those under them. This can be done through learning.

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This rule is especially important because of stagnation. If we cease the pursuit of learning, and improving (referring to Rule 28), then we as a society begin to stagnate. This means that we begin to grow complacent and bored. A good few problems in the modern world is boredom. People latch onto ideas, movements, and beliefs they normally wouldn't out of boredom. Why are there so many people today who participate in morally repugnant organizations and groups that only seek to divide the world while claiming to stand up for the rights of people they deem oppressed? They are bored and have nothing to do. They feel that we, as humans, have advanced so far and have so much that there isn't really that much left to do. They are coddled and given everything in the world. Instant gratification is a major problem as well.
Now, am I saying that we need to get rid of conveniences? No. Instead, we must recognize the effect of these conveniences on our very being and strive to do things on our own. Many children today are growing up without basic life skills and many young adults are taking “adulting” classes to learn what their parents aren't teaching them. This includes everything from cooking and cleaning to paying the bills and dealing with courts. Many parents whose children are seeking these classes expect the school system to teach their kids everything and they expect the internet to teach everything else. This is leading to a major disconnect between the many generations and it's leading kids, young adults, and adults to have serious issues related to finance, trust, the law, and many more things. Parents need to teach their children just as much as they want the schools and internet to do. In relation to Rule 1, by not teaching children to enjoy, or at least attempt, learning throughout their lives, the parents are harming their future. ### Deep Dive: Rule 28 ***Man cannot remake himself without suffering for he is both the marble and the sculptor.***

This is both a quote and a rule. Quoted from Alexis Carrel, a 20th century French surgeon awarded for his innovative vascular suturing techniques. This rule is meant to both encourage and illustrate that the betterment of the self is both hard work and worth it. As you chip away at the marble of your life that is undesirable, you begin to shine through the true shape of your being. This can be anything from being physically active to improve your health or accomplishing a physical goal to learning something that is very hard for you. We must improve who we are at all times. This may be a slow and arduous process, but it is always worth it. ### Deep Dive: Rule 29 ***Give charitably, so long as you are able.***

When you have so much you are overflowing with resources that you and your family could never use, it is always a good thing to share with your fellow man. While it is yours to do with as you see fit, to ignore the suffering of the less fortunate is unneighborly. It is up to you to determine what you are able to give if you can and it is up to you to who you give to. ### Deep Dive: Rule 30 ***Treat others as you would want to be treated and do not treat others as you would not want to be treated.***

This rule is so old that when humans first began to write down law and morality, it was one of the first that got codified. Dubbed the Golden Rule, the first half of rule 30 is extremely self explanatory. However, I added to this rule to encompass the opposite as well. Basically, don't do unto others that you would not have done unto you. A rather simple principle that seems like it should be a natural conclusion of the Golden Rule, but not entirely so. ### Deep Dive: Rule 31 ***Take responsibility for your own thoughts, emotions, and actions for you can control them.*** You are able to take control of yourself. You are your own master. No one is above you just as no one is below you. While it may be hard, you must do what you are able to embolden yourself with heart. Your actions are your own, however, if your hand is forced, then your hand is forced. What does this mean? It means one simple thing: if by threat of violence, violence, or to protect yourself or others you must take an action that you would never take, your hand is forced. If someone threatens to murder your family unless you sign over your property, your hand has been forced. The opposite is never true. Never through your inaction will you force the hand of another.

\page What does this mean? Simply, if a criminal is ordering you to do something horrible or else someone will be harmed, by not taking that action you are not harming the victim. It is the criminal who has chosen to set conditions on harming the victim, but make no mistake, it is them who freely choose to harm. As for your thoughts and emotions, you are in control of them. Random and intrusive thoughts occur all the time and they do not represent you. Learning to control your emotions is one of life’s great journeys that can take a weekend or 100 years. As long as you are trying and learning to do so, you are improving.
In the world today, there is much hate. Hate for opposing political ideals, hate for differences in humanity like skin or sex, hate for being from the “wrong” nation or one different from your own. This hate is only ever fueled by more hate and fear. The wrong thing is said on the news and an entire group of people begin to hate. The only way to oppose this hate is with love and strength. We can no longer react blindly and lash out to that which we do not like or that which we fear. It is our duty, our responsibility, to take control of how we react in this world. Our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions are ours and ours alone. No one controls us, no one thinks for us. Manipulation is rampant and is performed by everyone, knowingly or not. We must think inward and discover our true beliefs, our true motives, and our true intentions. ### Deep Dive: Rule 32 ***Treat laborers with the same respect as their leaders.***

Every person deserves the basic respect afforded to everyone else. Construction workers, servers, cashiers, and all others who work in either service or manual labor give to the human community, even if it is the only job they are able. The act of trying to survive is honorable and noble, and should be viewed with respect. ``` ``` ### Deep Dive: Rule 33 ***Never miss an opportunity to express yourself. Life moves by in a flash, one minute it's there and the next it's gone. It is the height of honor to let those you love know it, and know it often, for you never know what will happen next.***

Love is the most powerful of all human emotions. Love can keep your belly full longer, it can warm your soul and heart, it can keep you going when all else is lost, and it can make even the most horrid condition seem just a bit less so. The feeling of love has started wars, turned the tides of conflict, allowed for the birth of civilizations, and has allowed for the survival of billions throughout history. Life is short. We are only on this earth for around 80 years before we parish. Because love is so powerful, we must strive to feel love in all things. We must share our love. We must tell those we love how much they mean to us. Doing so will allow them to feel love and enhance our own love. With love in our hearts, the world can be at peace. Give love and receive love. To love is to be alive.

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