JORGE RODRIGUES SIMAO

We live in a culture in which being a nice person is considered tantamount to being a good person. The result is that many nice people are mistaken for fine human beings, when, in fact, they haven't earned this distinction due to their serious character defects. On the other hand, many really good people are mistaken for having serious character defects just because they aren’t the nicest people around. So what makes a good person?

"A good head and a good heart," Nelson Mandela reminded us, "are always a formidable combination." No doubt at times it's hard for a lot of us to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys.

A successful American entrepreneur had acquired a lot of wealth. He decided to retire and take it easy, living a life to which most people aspire. Unfortunately, he soon realized that he still wasn't happy. Because his life was so empty, the entrepreneur decided to go in search of a Zen master who apparently knew three important secrets for living life to the fullest. After many months of searching, the entrepreneur finally found the Zen master on top of an obscure mountain. The Zen master was happy to reveal the three secrets to having a happy and satisfying life. The entrepreneur was surprised by what he was told.

Mario Sergio Cortella explica o que é corrupção

Quais são os países mais corruptos?

“Poorly equipped schools, counterfeit medicine and elections decided by money are just some of the consequences of public sector corruption. Bribes and backroom deals don’t just steal resources from the most vulnerable - they undermine justice and economic development, and destroy public trust in government and leaders.”

Corruption Perceptions Index 2014

Transparency International

A luta contra a corrupção é o terceiro desafio que os países devem enfrentar. A democracia é uma experiência compartilhada por centenas de milhões de pessoas e não se reduz ao acto de votar, consistindo no debate público que decorre antes e depois das eleições, no qual os cidadãos vão aprendendo uns com os outros. É pelas características desta aprendizagem que reside a diferença fundamental entre democracia e autocracia. Num governo autoritário aqueles que aprendem são uns quantos e que têm acesso aos problemas públicos.

According to Samuel Johnson, "most people spend parts of their lives in attempts to display qualities they don't have." Indeed, motivated by the desire to be popular, many human beings go out of their way to impress the world with their nonexistent qualities. They may use expensive clothing, flashy cars, big houses, the latest fads, name-dropping, and past achievements in attempts to claim attention from other individuals. Because we are social animals, the desire to be liked and respected is natural.