David Brooks - The 5 Levels of Character

NY Times columnist David Brooks says, "We all steal as much as we can to maintain our self-image." If this is true, how can we cultivate character - and become good people? Brooks highlights 5 commitments on that path to "the highest life possible."

[@airforce79]

We, as a society, as a people, as individuals, never truly know what someone else is going through or what they've had to endure. We don't walk in their shoes or have the opportunity to see life through their eyes. Therefore, we dare not stand in judgment. The best we can do is stand ready to learn from those who come into our lives to offer experiences.

[@egrace3738]

Load of horse shit. Some people hurt others. I'm not waiting to 'learn whatever they want to teach' .

[@maryelizabethwhite8420]

Very well said.

[@airforce79]

@@maryelizabethwhite8420 Thank you!

[@UTEXTRACK]

One of my favorite writers. He’s one of the few truly objective columnists.

[@keiththompson2289]

It's a shame that people like this don't run for president instead of the vile politicians we get now. I'm guessing that no honest, sincere man would ever even want the job.

[@virginiabaker627]

David is a good, bright, honest man.

[@jhinton129]

I love this man and he makes complete sense to me and explains much of what is wrong with our country today.

[@nkosanah.ndlovu]

Thank you for the talk

[@usolargirl]

For children to learn character read them stories written by mystics, and then the children will know that this level of depth has a value and some of the tales may resonate with how they would like to live.

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

Insightful!

[@TheShoaib78]

Great man with great words.

[@ebbandari]

Interesting talk. I haven't read the book, but his description (rather than definition) of character -- whether transactional or transcendental -- comes with some level of permanence. It doesn't have to. It doesn't have to, and he hints at it. I'm hungry, but you need it more now, here's my food. I know this will backfire and hurt my career my life even my loved ones, but I see wrong that hurts many, I'm going to be a whistle blower. Character is not discipline! Sometimes it's the opposite I'm a general, I serve a crooked president as his chief of staff. I do my best to minimize the damage. When fired, I leave quietly because I'm deciplined. Wrong! It takes strength of character to say, this is what I saw and we need to stop this. Or yes I was a general. Yes Im disciplined. Yes I'm the secretary of state. But this war is unjust, I'll reasoned, and wrong. It would take a lack of character and genuine discipline to go on and I'll sacrifice for my country to stop this. Now that's the correct sense of duty and that takes character. So it doesn't have to permanent. It takes a solid character to do the right thing when it matters regardless. It takes a lot of luck to do something good that also brings you joy, and to it long term, and it takes character to pursue it.

[@carringtonlefayette8644]

David is the calm voice in the wilderness for me. I listen to him speak on djt and I feel uplifted.

[@maryelizabethwhite8420]

What is djt?

[@cowardcrop7714]

The stoic system is not based on suppression of emotion.

[@edkrstic6423]

Words that mean alot

[@hunkyphone3430]

Hi David Brooks my transcendental sister Chris Edmunds fluttered in between enlightenment channels. Poor gal wore her self out .

[@francisspivey2076]

Tell it to Charlie Rose, David.

[@bubblebobble9654]

Picking one (and only one) fundamental belief system and adhering to it, is worse than picking none. It's like being a bug that can only turn left versus another bug that always friends towards the light. Don't be the bug that always turns left.

[@EvolovedDNA]

Morality, what you create to justify your actions. There is no place for martyrdom in good character. Character is survival driven. We will cooperate until it becomes "us or them". Without us, the universe disappears.

[@gretai8057]

He's trick is mumbling in a monotone way.,,,

[@imaginationexpansion5818]

convenience

[@info781]

He ditched his wife for a younger women. It is fine to feel a little guilty. I think he protests too much.

[@apctravel]

You are wrong by assuming that.

[@JamesCappleman]

In this speech, Mr. Brooks spoke of "justice" and its counter "mercy". I've found that many people have their own beliefs about what justice is, but mercy is so much easier to recognize. Everyone, including you, will experience a crisis where others may become quite critical of our response. Those "others" will cry for justice, but it's mercy that really changes people's hearts.

[@JMCunin]

Nice to hear comments from another Never Trump person

[@jameswilliams3443]

All thanks to doctor Alued on KZbin who cure me from heart disease thank you Dr

[@LS-tk5yk]

As rational as can be, why was the muslim philosophy not mentioned even refereed to? You know you cannot blur a century of civilization that took place in the center on the ancient world. The language that carried Greek philosophy to Europe was Arabic not Latin my dear. Great muslim philosophers like Avesina، Al Gazali and Averrois cannot be omitted from history. I cannot respect any scholar who is not honest to himself. I was going to read your book out of admire, now I changed my mind.

[@josephmarak7132]

I used to really respect Mr. Brooks, but as a self-styled religious man, he betrays his own purported morality by insisting on being a Republican apologist. I do like seeing his shame and embarrassment when he faces Mr. Shields, as he stares at his feet and mumbles...

[@chrisbarrett4637]

I think this shows character, to publicly show disappointment, shame over the failings of a group you support. I can support but acknowledge short comings

[@johnprendergast1338]

Brooks is a character himself ..Works at NYTs as Republican writer --? Works at bias NPR as a commentator...He's considered a thoughtful ,soft spoked lib ...Just say'in...

[@ryanmarquiss1410]

Haha! He divorced his wife to marry his secretary then wrote a book on character. Truly great!

[@auriculares02]

We don’t know what kind of relationship he and his wife has. And people are not meant to stay together forever.

[@mimmousavi8108]

!!! Where did that come from !!!

[@chrisprzibilla4181]

@ryanmarquiss1410 In bare outline, you may be correct. However, what do you know of the actual circumstances? That is the question.

[@corneliaward6447]

@@chrisprzibilla4181uh TV

[@jimrockfish1875]

I’ve heard him tell the story of catching his wife coming in the door and in a glimpse knowing what it was like to completely know someone and that ethereal feeling. I wonder which wife he was talking about.

[@rexgressett496]

I have often wondered how a vile professional liar rationalizes his relentlessly destructive life. Now I know.

[@hunkyphone3430]

This guy teased his hill bril. What a pundit she lost,

[@JMCunin]

Great to hear from another ‘Never Trump’ person

[@honuman39]

David has been a political pundit for conservatives for over two decades making prognostications on high profile platforms. He's almost never been correct about his political ideas and actively worked to further Republican and by proxy far right conservative ideology. Not once has he admitted his role in this current toxic political and social state the US is in yet he's one of the people who has had a voice in national politics for 20+ years. My biggest question has been how is he allowed further access to high profile media platforms for being almost universally wrong at doing the one job he's been hired to do; give accurate readings on politics? He should be shunned and run out on a rail.

[@dougwigginton3983]

nothing more than a sophisticated version of a failed "new age" humanistic theory.

[@JWPeace_4MyBoys]

Not funny

[@JamieJobb]

Certainly we understand what "character" means on stage. Each actor has one. And usually each "character" has some sort of "intention" ... That's the start. Then comes: "Once upon a time ... years pass ... then one day." See: David Mamet.