--- William Shakespeare
"To thine own self be true" is among the most well-known of the many well-known Shakespearean verses. We may benefit from this well known verse by adopting it as a compass as we navigate the various possible courses of any given day.
The verse says to me that whatever I decide about a particular course of action, it's never between me and anyone else. It's always between me and what I value.
For example, did someone say something hurtful to me? Since I value human dignity, when someone says something hurtful to me, I don't have a pass to say something hurtful in response. It's not between me and them. It's between me and what I value. To my own self (values) be true.
Did someone break a promise? Since I value keeping my word, if someone breaks a promise, it doesn't give me a pass to do the same in return. It's not between me and them. It's between me and what I value. To my own self (values) be true.
Did someone throw trash on the side of the road? Since I value the environment, it doesn't give me a pass to throw my trash on the side of the road. It's not between me and anyone else. It's between me and what I value. To my own self (values) be true.
Values differ from person to person. I'm not answerable to anyone else's values. No one else is answerable to my values. I'm the one responsible to myself for what I value. It's never between me and anyone else. It's always between me and my own values. To my own self be true.
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