Adrian Volenik
If you read the news lately, you must be aware that many people don’t abide by any moral values whatsoever.
That’s why I really admire people with high moral values. They’re built differently from the rest and make decisions based on their moral compass.
So what are some things people with high moral values never do? Let’s find out.
1) Lying
Any of the following four things could or should be in the first place. And overall, the actions on this list aren’t really listed by their importance.
That said, highly moral people understand that honesty builds trust and encourages healthy relationships.
They avoid deliberately misleading others, and if they do need to withhold information, they do it responsibly and ethically.
For instance, when a priest or a doctor has to keep their client’s secrets.
2) Cheating
People with strong moral values also recognize that achieving success through dishonest means undermines their integrity. They believe in the value of hard work and fair competition.
If you lie and steal your way to the top, that says a lot about you. You could be a cardinal, for that matter, but if everyone knows how you got to such a high position, you will be of little help to the people you’re supposed to serve.
And what can I say about cheating on your romantic partner? It’s really one of the worst things you can do in life.
3) Stealing
Lying, stealing, and cheating doesn’t go hand-in-hand with high moral values. On the other hand, respecting others’ property and possessions is at the core of their principles.
Like most people, they know how important personal boundaries and consent are.
You know of the old saying – opportunity makes a thief. Many people think they’re moral until a possibility opens up.
Until they get a chance to steal a lot of money or cheat on their husband or wife, they won’t really know whether they’re genuinely moral or not.
4) Harming others
Empathy is a guiding principle for moral people. They avoid causing harm to others physically, emotionally, or psychologically, and they aim to create a positive impact above all.
Harming people doesn’t just mean physical violence. It also means mental abuse, passive-aggressive behavior, and doing harm by inaction.
That’s right. Sometimes the worst violence and injustice happen when people don’t act.
5) Discrimination
Although people are generally more welcoming to others than ever, much’s still to be desired.
Highly moral people treat everyone with respect and fairness, regardless of differences in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or any other characteristic.
They believe in the inherent worth of every individual. Now compare that to xenophobes, nationalists, and racists we’re all surrounded with.
6) Exploitation
Exploitation comes in many shapes and forms. It isn’t only what you first think of.
For example, employers denying workers their rightful wages, benefits, or overtime pay or manipulating working hours to avoid paying fair compensation. That’s also exploitation.
We also have predatory lending, taking advantage of imbalanced trade relationships between countries or collecting and using personal data without proper consent or transparency.
I’m sure these weren’t at the top of your mind when I mentioned exploitation.
Ultimately, highly moral people reject taking advantage of other people’s vulnerabilities and treat all people with dignity and compassion.
7) Gossiping
Although gossiping isn’t as harmful as some other actions on this list, it can still ruin people’s lives.
People with high moral values don’t gossip or spread false rumors because of the potential harm they can bring.
They prioritize uplifting conversations that boost positivity in relationships. For example, telling someone they’re doing a great job, giving them good advice, sharing their experiences, etc.
8) Ignoring responsibilities
If you’re anything like me, you’re absolutely swamped with things you need to do. Some are more important than others, so I have to pick and choose their priority.
Just like the next person, sometimes I forget to do something, but I try my best to be as responsible as I can.
For highly moral people, fulfilling commitments and responsibilities is crucial. They understand that their actions have consequences and persist in being accountable.
Is this easy? Only sometimes.
9) Being selfish
Being selfish is a character trait that’s obviously frowned upon by many. But in the capitalist system, it’s one of the best traits you can have.
Swimming in such waters often hurts highly moral individuals as they don’t earn as much money and don’t have as high social status as those stepping over corpses.
But for them, that doesn’t matter that much. They value the well-being of others as much as their own. They practice selflessness and are willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.
Without such people, the world would be even worse.
10) Not helping others
To continue in the same tone, compassion is also something that drives them to help and aid others in times of need. They understand the value of helping without expecting anything in return.
That’s why so many high moral people are volunteers, advocates for human and animal rights, or simply spread awareness to the masses.
Compassion reflects their commitment to creating a better world and promoting positive relationships with those around them.
And even simple gestures like holding a door, offering a listening ear, or helping someone with groceries are considered valuable expressions of their values.
11) Breaking promises
“Promises are only as strong as the person who gives them …”
– Stephen Richards
Just as you shouldn’t ignore your responsibilities, you also shouldn’t break promises. Keeping promises and commitments is essential to maintaining trust with others.
Friends, family members, colleagues, and partners may become reluctant to rely on you if they don’t feel confident in your commitments.
People with high morals know that their word is a reflection of their integrity. Breaking promises strains relationships and results in a breakdown of trust.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this article gave you some insight into the minds of such extraordinary people.
In the end, let me ask you: are you someone with high moral values?
If not, do you aspire to become one?
