Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Life Rule 6: Set Your House in Perfect Order Before You Criticize the World

“Before I leave this worthless place, I will kill whoever I deem unfit for anything, especially life. If you pissed me off in the past, you will die if I see you. You might be able to piss off others, and have it eventually all blow over, but not me. I don’t forget people who wronged me.”

A member of the Columbine High School killers

And you never pissed anyone else off in your life? You’re telling me that you’re a saint? Not only are you not a saint, you’re probably a maggot.

It is of course tragic whenever we hear of the seemingly daily mass shootings over in the US. People grow up with hate and resentment toward their fellow human beings. What has this world come to?

I’m not saying there won’t be times where people question the meaning of existence at all. Family members get sick, children die, natural disasters occur in increasing frequency. There is suffering everywhere we look.

But we always have a choice. Will we choose bitterness and resentment or will we choose to be the change that we wish to see in the world? Will we choose love and compassion, and authentic communication? Will we stop doing things we know to be wrong?

For we cannot rule a city without first bringing peace to our household.

There is one thing that helps in preventing an epidemic of criticism and nihilism.

That is to set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.