Morals are the rules that govern which actions are right and which are wrong. A morals can be for all of society or an individual’s beliefs. Sometimes a moral can be gleaned from a story or experience.
Morals in Society
Here are some examples of morals in society:
- Do not gossip
- Tell the truth
- Do not vandalize property
- Have courage
- Do not have sex before marriage
- Keep your promises
- Do not cheat
- Treat others as you want to be treated
- Be trustworthy
- Do not judge
- Be dependable
- Respect others
- Be forgiving
- Keep your self control
- Have integrity
- Be accountable and take responsibility
- Have patience
- Be loyal
- Have respect for yourself
- Be tolerant of differences
- Seek justice
- Have humility
- Serve mankind
- Be generous
The Ten Commandments are the basis for many of society’s morals:
- Do not have any gods before me
- Do not make for yourself a graven image
- Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
- Honor your father and mother
- Do not kill
- Do no commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not bear false witness against your neighbor
- Do not covet your neighbor’s wife or possessions
Morals in Literature
The most prolific source of stories with morals is “Aesop’s Fables.” Here is a sampling of them:
- Appearances often are deceiving. – From “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
- Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease. – From “The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons”
- Don’t make much ado about nothing. – From “The Mountain in Labor”
- Every man should be content to mind his own business. – From “The Seagull and the Kite”
- Example is more powerful than precept. – From “The Crab and Its Mother”
- Familiarity breeds contempt. – From “The Fox and the Lion”
- He is not to be trusted as a friend who mistreats his own family. – From “The Master and His Dogs”
- He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others. – From “The Sick Lion”
- He who once begins to tell falsehoods is obliged to tell others to make them appear true, and, sooner or later, they will get him into trouble. – From “The Monkey and the Dolphin”
- He who seeks to injure others often injures only himself. – From “The Horse and the Stag”
- It is best to prepare for the days of necessities. – From “The Ant and the Grasshopper”
- It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds. – From “The Jay and the Peacock”
- It shows an evil disposition to take advantage of a friend in distress. – From “The Bull and the Goat”
- Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends. – From “The Bear and the Two Travelers”
- Necessity is the mother of invention. – From “The Crow and the Pitcher”
- No one should be blamed for his infirmities. – From “The Old Hound”
- Pride goes before destruction. – From “The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle”
- The hero is brave in deeds as well as words. – From “The Hunter and the Woodman”
- There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth. – From “The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf”
- Things are not always what they seem. – From “Bee-Keeper and the Bees”
- Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only make themselves ridiculous. – From “The Crow and the Raven”
All of these different stories provide good examples of morals, each containing an important moral and an important lesson to learn.
