Most of the oldest religions in the World stem from the same principle, that happiness comes from living rightly. Although over many years too much dogma and tradition for the sake of tradition has become entangled in these religions, in the recent decades when these systems have become either obsolete or secondary, this very important founding principle has been left behind, when it should not be.

It is a fundamental truth of human nature that a person who is just will always be happier than one who is unjust. Socrates, Jesus, Buddha, Confucious, and nearly every other founder of a major world philosophy agree on this. While the details of what constitutes right behavior in every situation varies, naturally, with which teacher you go to, the basic principle can be defined this way; one who does what is right, regardless of personal benefit, will love himself. One who acts selfishly, who knowingly does wrong and is unthinking of the health and happiness of others, will, whatever they tell themselves and others, never love themselves. Without love of self, happiness is fleeting and illusive; one is only a kite in the wind, subject to the whims of fate, happy when everything is going your way, miserable when the slightest disturabance occurs, or something is less than you expect it to be. With love of self, one has a bedrock of assurance, where one may be saddened without losing hope, angered without losing sense of self. Your happiness no longer depends on everything continuing to go your way; even if you should be unjustly attacked or imprisoned, you know that you have acted rightly.