Wizard's Rules

I have been reading a series of books collectively called "Sword of Truth" by Terry Goodkind. In the first eleven books of the series, Wizard's Rules are revealed. Although these books are entirely fictional, I believe the Wizard's Rules have a place in real life, and have incorporated them into my own belief system.

01) Given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe its true, or because they're afraid it might be true. Peoples' heads are full of knowledge, facts and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.

02) Kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong, and can cause harm. The only counter to it is knowledge, wisdom, forethought, and understanding the First Rule. Even then, that is not always enough.

03) Letting your emotions control your reason may cause trouble for yourself and those around you.

04) There is magic in sincere forgiveness; in the forgiveness you give, but more so in the forgiveness you receive.

05) Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.

06) The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.

07) Life is the future, not the past.

08) Deserve Victory.

09) A contradiction can not exist in reality. Not in part, nor in whole.

10) Willfully turning aside from the truth is treason to one's self.

11) One must always seek the truth in life for themselves, rather than simply believing that which they are told without their own rational understanding and justification for that belief. Failure to do so can lead to a life of clinging to empty promises and following trails of false hope. The knowledge gained through seeking the truth, if used for the purposes of good, is the key to enjoying life to its fullest. Those who use the truth for hate however, only betray themselves.