One of my students read me the following excerpt from 15th Century diplomat and author Niccolò Machiavelli, in order to clarify aspects of human nature and leadership. If you are chosen as king, and the crown turns out to be big, then…
Dr. Michael Laitman
To Change the World – Change Man
If People Are Animals, Then Why Do We Get Offended by Being Called an Animal?
One of my students raised this question via the following quote by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec: “If an animal were to kill intentionally, it would have been a human act.” In other words, animals kill instinctively for the sake of fulfilling…
Why Did Moses Fail to Enter the Promised Land?
Moses’ journey is first and foremost a lesson in devotion to the Creator’s will. He led the people of Israel as commanded, fulfilling every directive with unwavering faith. Yet, as they reached the border of the Land of Israel, the…
From Chekhov to Kabbalah: Finding Meaning in a Seemingly Meaningless Life
One of my students recently read to me a quote by Anton Chekhov and asked my opinion on it, since he believed that its ideas held similarity to ideas in the wisdom of Kabbalah. “I was no more than 26…
What Era Are We In?
We are in a transitional era marked by a shift from a hibernating state to an aspiration for harmony, balance, and peace with the laws of nature, i.e., to the discovery of life’s meaning. The discovery of life’s meaning is…
How Do Humans Fit into the Natural World? Are We a Part of Nature or Separate from It?
Humanity has a unique role in the natural world. Unlike other creatures, we have the capacity to complete the great big ecological sphere we are parts of. Yet, our current behavior disrupts the delicate balance of the ecosystem, creating harm…
What Can We Learn from Nature about Sustainable Development?
In our times, humanity has drifted far from the natural balance that governs living systems. When a wolf hunts, it takes only what it needs to sustain itself. It does not hoard, exploit, or disrupt the delicate harmony of its…
How Do You Protect Your Mental Health?
Protecting yourself mentally does not mean putting up walls or shielding yourself from the world. Instead, it is about learning to flow harmoniously with nature and the people around you. The idea that out of fearing blows, we close ourselves…
Why Is There a Lack of Kindness in the World?
There is a lack of kindness in the world because people do not love each other. Moreover, the world was created precisely for people to develop loving and kind relations to one another. We are placed into such a situation…
Why Did God Create Humans as the Main Beings on Earth?
That is indeed a complicated topic. God creates us humans as intelligent beings and gave us the ability to correct ourselves, i.e., to invert our inborn egoistic nature to altruism. If we refuse to do so and remain foolish, then…
What Are the Most Effective Ways to Mend a Broken Relationship?
In our lives, broken relationships stem from misunderstandings, both large and small, and they can leave us feeling lost and confused. Many experts suggest trying to understand the other person’s perspective, recognizing that actions are not always intentional. But what…
What Makes a True Hero?
A true hero is someone who serves as an example to follow—not necessarily through dramatic feats or daring stunts, but by being relatable and grounded in qualities we all aspire to develop. A hero is not defined solely by their…