All human beings aspire to be virtuous. We take pride In being recognized for our noble qualities. Should we possess an undesirable trait, we strive to amend it—or at the very least, conceal It from others.
Humans are inherently moral beings. It Is precisely this moral compass that distinguishes us from other creatures. Have you ever heard of roses engaging In conflict? Has an oak tree ever deceived another oak? Has a sunflower ever judged a tree that obstructs Its sunlight? And what about animals? Has a leopard ever felt remorse for losing control and killing a gazelle? Do cats consume mice out of malice? Do dogs avoid cats out of envy? The concepts of good and evil are fundamentally irrelevant to all beings—except the human being.
In every society, there exists an unwritten set of moral codes. Though their external expressions may vary from one culture to another, the desire for virtue and the aversion to vice are universal among all humans. No individual on this planet begins with a blank moral slate. Although the environment in which we are raised plays a significant role in shaping the path of our ethical development, the inclination toward moral awareness is innate.
“Man is not merely a rational animal; man Is man.” The distinction between these two statements lies precisely in the ethical nature of humankind, which sets it apart from animals. Should an animal act in a manner that contradicts human morality, it will never be reproached or punished. No one expects an animal to embody humanity. Conversely, no human being, in the depths of their conscience, wishes to be equated with animals—because we are humans. We are created with an inherent moral sensibility.