Defining what makes a good person is not easy. After all the first thing that you need to decide is what you mean by good. Do you mean good as in purity, in spirit or perhaps you mean good hearted. Any of these may apply and there are no hard and fast rules. Below is what I feel are the main characteristics of a good person and hopefully most readers will agree.

TRUSTWORTHY

A good person is someone who you can trust, not just with monetary items but with your feelings and your treatment. To me a good person respects other peoples feelings, property and ideas.

KINDNESS

Someone who is good will usually be thoughtful and kind in their behaviour towards others. Yes, we are all human and we don't always get everything right but on the whole kindness is part of being a good person.

RESPECT

I have mentioned respect briefly and I believe that a good person will always have respect for themselves, others and their environment.

LAW ABIDING

In general I think that a person has to be law abiding to be classed as a good person. I know that some cries are far more serious than others but goodness and law breaking just do not go together.

The old adage of 'Do as you would be done by' is as true as ever. I have always found that genuinely good people behave in such a way. There have been many good people but unfortunately as many, if not more, evil people. Someone such as Mother Theresa obviously had religious beliefs but that is not an essential requirement to be a good person. There have equally been evil people who have behaved atrociously in the name of religion. Take for example Torquemada and the evils he instigated in the name of religion.

Good people can be found in all walks of life. They may be caring, understanding, sensitive, thoughtful, honest and much more. Good can often be confused with morals. However I belief there are individuals who may not have strict morals but are still good people.

Overall though if you come across a good person you cannot fail to spot them. Moreover I would look after and cherish them as, these days, it may be a while before you come across another.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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