In our society today we hear clichés and repeat them, whether they make sense or not.  For example, Shakespeare said, “Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”  A moment’s reflection will convince you that thinking has nothing to do with whether rape, murder, etc., are good or bad.  Those acts are bad.  Many people today say, “Well, everything is relative,” which is also absurd.  We must have some absolutes in life; otherwise, obeying the law is “relative.”  There are several thousand laws on the books, so let’s go down the list and choose the ones which are relative to us and, consequently, obey only them.  Chaos would be the obvious result.

For the 85-year-old, driving 40 miles per hour might seem far too fast, while 90 miles per hour for the 17-year-old might not seem fast at all.  A “bump” by a 300-pound NFL offensive lineman on a 290-pound defensive end would be relatively insignificant.  The same force applied against a frail senior citizen could result in serious consequences.

As you ponder things of this nature, I believe you will come to the conclusion that the more things we make relative, the more chaos we’re going to have in our society.  It’s safe to say that virtually every husband and wife in America does not want their mate to be “relatively” faithful. Most of us have even taken vows that being relative has nothing to do with.  We’re going to love, cherish, honor and be faithful to our spouse.  Add relativity and good or bad to that vow, and very few marriages would survive.

The list is endless, but I encourage you to eliminate much of this “relativity stuff,” and this idea that “nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so” approach to life.  Follow the moral absolutes which have stood civilization in good stead for several thousand years.  Think about it.  Embrace those moral absolutes and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

By Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator.   He is the author of 30 books .  Check out his latest book, Born to Win.