There is a strong tendency for an evil person to consider himself good, and for a truly good person to consider himself bad. The rationale behind this is simple: Their criteria of good and bad differ greatly.
A good person desires to help others, and when unable to do as much as he idealistically wishes, considers himself "bad."
An evil person considers himself "good" if he refrains from beating someone up after taking their money.
The lesson: Be objective about your actions.
(Imrai Binah, p.45; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.132)
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Self image
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About the Author
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Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is a noted psychologist and prolific author of 24 books, including Guard Your Tongue, Gateway to Happiness, Gateway to Self Knowledge, Love Your Neighbor, Growth Through Torah, The Power of Words, Consulting the Wise, and the recent Life is Now. Rabbi Pliskin lives in Jerusalem, and is the director of Aish HaTorah's Counseling Center and a senior lecturer at Aish's Essentials program and the Executive Learning Center. He was ordained at the Telshe Yeshiva in Ohio and holds a degree in Counseling Psychology.
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