Puzzlelady - It is your theory that integrity is a meme not a molecule. I make the counter, however, that if as vague a notion as 'religiosity' could be genetically inherited (for which there is some evidence) then it is not impossible that 'integrity' could be genetic as well. I have absolutely no evidence integrity is genetic - let me be clear about that. It is not beyond imagining that it might be, though, and so I posed the argument that it might be possible to make the 'folly of hereditary kings' not a folly...or at least less of a folly. It would be a general improvement, in my opinion, if one were to merely be able to eliminate the 'asses'.

Jan

(from memory)

The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel,
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatched, unfledged, comrade.
Beware of entrance to a quarrel but, being in it,
Bear it that the enemy shouldst beware of thee!
Give each man thy ear, but few thy voice,
Accept each man's council, but reserve thy judgement.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not expressed in fancy: Rich, not gaudy,
For the apparel oft proclaims the man.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For a loan oft looses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
And this above all: To thine own self be true.
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Off the cuff:
To Thine own self be true
and it must follow as
the night the day
Thou canst not then
be false to any man.
be false to any man