All our lives we have been taught what is right and what is wrong, and what is good and what is bad. There is a difference and one knows when they are good or bad. “One does evil enough when one does nothing good”(Picture Quotes). This quote states that when you do not do any good you are considered evil. The differences between good and evil are numerous and how culture affects whether one is good or evil.
To begin with, Webster's Dictionary describes well as of a favorable character or tendency. Good people have a lack of self-centeredness and are capable of empathizing with others, having empathy for them, and putting their needs before their own. This means sacrificing their well-being for the sake of others, if possible. This includes benevolence, altruism and selflessness, and self-sacrifice toward a greater cause; all qualities of empathy. Good people are also able to see beyond the superficial differences of ethnicity, sex, or nationality and appeal to an underlying common human nature. One should always try to be good by being empathetic, tolerant, and not being self-centered.
In addition, Webster’s Dictionary describes evil as arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct. Evil people are those who can't sympathize. It gives them high importance to their own needs and desires. They are arrogant, greedy and self-absorbed. In reality, others are only beneficial to them in so far as they can fulfill and manipulate their desires. This is true of criminals such as Stalin, Hitler, serial killers, and rapists. Evil people’s main feature is the incapacity of others to empathize. They can not feel the pain and suffering of others, they can not see the world from the viewpoint of other people, therefore, they have no sense of rights. Certain people are just objects to them, which encourages their violence and cruelty. One should not try to be bad and should not be self-centered, arrogant, and should try to be empathetic.
Lastly, culture has a lot to do with what the community thinks is good and bad. Culture affects the community's behavior in two ways political leadership and big events. In a nation, political landscape changes over time and people with diverse views and agendas can inspire and influence the opinions of the majority of the population in the country. People learn new habits, some odd behavior becomes the new normal and unusual changes are described. Such shifts in leadership transform societies over time, good leadership leads and motivates those around them to get good habits and to do their best with integrity. Vice versa, it's true that a bad leadership that's egotistically driven negatively affects culture and allows everybody to be greedy and egoist produces a bad culture and determines normal behavior and not social values in such a society. Huge events, such as war, change the culture and induce new people's habits. We human beings adjust to it easily to survive when we are in a special situation. Like in a position of prolonged war, people are intense anxieties, children are abused and people are no longer aware of ethical values. If a country faces economic crises and people have little money to feed their children, they will become a little greedy to save and make more money, which will get ordinary once again. The worst thing is that these events happen and change the culture, but when this event ends, the change of culture will continue. The series of these occurrences shape society. Culture can affect the whole society for better or worse based on government and big events.
In conclusion, there are many variations between good and evil and the impact of society on whether one is good or bad. “Being a good person doesn’t depend on your religion, your race or your skin color or your culture. It depends on how good is your heart and how well you treat others.” (Anonymous). One should always strive to be good because it could affect society for the worse causing others to be evil people.