"به راه انداختن جنگی به دلایل صرفاً اخلاقی به همان اندازه نادر است که انجام عملی صرفاً اخلاقی"

What this quote is really saying is that humans rarely do anything—big or small—for purely moral reasons. Think about it: even when we see someone doing something that seems completely selfless, there's often some other motive at play. Maybe they want to feel good about themselves, or perhaps they're looking for approval from others.

Historically, wars have almost never been fought just because it was "the right thing to do." Sure, there might be a moral justification that's used to rally the troops or get public support. For example, think about World War II. It was framed as a fight against the evil of the Nazis and the horrors they were inflicting on millions of people. But there were also plenty of other factors—political, economic, strategic—that influenced the decision to go to war. Countries don't mobilize vast resources and send young people to die just for a moral cause; there's almost always more to it.

Now, imagine you're a small business owner. You decide to donate a portion of your profits to a local charity. On the surface, it looks like an entirely selfless act. But dig a little deeper. Maybe you’re hoping this will make your business look good and attract more customers. Perhaps you believe it’ll build goodwill in the community, or it simply makes you feel good about yourself. There’s nothing wrong with these additional motives, but they illustrate the point that actions are rarely taken for purely moral reasons.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by being honest with yourself about your motives. When you’re making a decision, ask yourself what you really want out of it. It’s okay to have multiple reasons for doing something—what’s important is recognizing them. This kind of self-awareness helps you make better choices and understand your own behavior more clearly.

Let's bring this closer to home with a story. Imagine your friend, Sarah, has always been passionate about animal welfare. She decides to volunteer at a local shelter every weekend. On the face of it, Sarah’s actions seem entirely noble. But if you dig a bit deeper, you find out that Sarah's been feeling pretty lonely since she moved to a new city. Volunteering gives her a sense of community and purpose. It's not just about the animals—it's about finding her place in a new environment and connecting with like-minded people. Sarah’s actions are still wonderful, but they’re not purely moral. They’re driven by a mix of compassion and personal needs.

The takeaway here? Realize that life's actions and decisions are complex. Embracing this complexity can help us understand others better too. Next time you see someone doing something good, remember there might be more to the story. And that’s perfectly okay.

So, the next time you’re sitting in a coffee shop, chatting with a friend about why they’re involved in a particular cause, you can share this idea. It might just lead to an eye-opening conversation about human nature, motives, and the tangled web of reasons that drive our actions. Understanding this can make us more empathetic and less judgmental—which, honestly, the world could use a bit more of.