I have always had the feeling, the underlying principles of human nature must be extraordinarily simple for 99.9999 % of people are reacting to these forces

If this is the case, like the effect temperature has to transform all substances into a solid, liquid or gas based on its boiling or freezing point, similarly, there are certain factors that are catalysts.

Simply speaking it goes like this:

To begin with, we have a Divine part to us hence our innate compassion and moral desire.

Then we have an animal part to us which like every animal has no moral conscience, it simply desires what will make it feel pleasure (good) and conversely (for pain is the opposite of pleasure) it desires to not feel pain (hurt.)

But here is where it gets very complicated (to the uninitiated, as it’s subconscious) As a human we also were blessed (or cursed depending on how you see it) with an ego.

The ego is an independent drive for being “better.”

We all wish to shine, as my friend Dr. Lipshitz told me, he operates on the neon-light theory – “everyone wants their name on neon lights.”

Now there is a element of greatness to this, for many people do amazing things! – though it may be for recognition – but it truly benefits the world! – unlike radical haters who are jealous, hence wish to rob wealthy people of their money, Judaism declares: without the drive for recognition nothing would be built! All our amazing companies are built by people looking for recognition – the Apple company being a great example.

But, and here is the infinite but, the flipside of the ego is very dark indeed – You see, if my innate drive is to be better, than just as pleasure has an innate corollary to not have pain, the ego has an innate drive to tear someone down if they are better – this explains why when people feel unjustifiably lower, having been bullied, demeaned, they in turn become bullies and demean – this is the secret to understanding, well all the evil ever and unfortunately committed.