I am not the most optimistic person, but still I like to believe that people are generally good. Most people know perfectly well how to tell wrong from right, and not only that, but they strive to do good and refrain from doing bad. At least, that is what I would like to think. If we cannot trust that when people have the choice they would choose to do the right thing, then what can we trust in? Rules and regulations will not help if everyone was really determined to do wrong.

We, as a society, have decided about certain rules we like everyone to adhere to. These rules did not come out of nowhere, and they were not made just to make our lives more difficult. In fact, most of the rules in western society are based on the principles of doing right and refraining from doing wrong. For example, we are not allowed to steal other people’s possessions or kill or murder other people. I would like to think that most people would refrain from stealing or killing even if it were not against the law.

The alternative, that most people do not do horrible things like rape, torture or murder people, because it is against the law and they are afraid of getting caught, is just too depressing. I would not want to live in a world where that is how people really feel, where the only thing that is keeping my neighbor from smashing my brains in, is his fear of going to jail. No, I believe most people are good, because they want to be good, or because they just are.

Of course, there are exceptions. I am not saying there are not plenty of thieves, rapists, murderers and other criminals out there who do not care so much about doing the right thing. Some people might in fact only behave, because there are rules and they are afraid of getting caught. However, this is just a small minority of people in our society. If for some reason, tomorrow all of our rules and regulations would no longer apply, I am sure that most of us would still continue to behave in the same way, and not go out and rob a bank or kill our neighbors.

Because what it comes down to, is that most people have their flaws, but inherently they are good people who want to live righteously and treat others well, and be treated lovingly and fairly in return. Sure, we might drive a little too fast, cheat on our taxes, or bad mouth someone we do not like, but in general we’re are all pretty decent folks, who would still be that way even if we would not get punished for our bad behavior.