There are only 2 exceptions when giving/taking a bribe is acceptable:
When the size of your hope/vision/dream is smaller than the bribe. If all you ever hope to achieve is a million, then someone offers you a billion, then its understandable taking a bribe.
When the absence of the bribe will result to a greater evil, like when someone’s life is at stake.
In all circumstances, its important to note that the exceptions listed above are based on reasoning, and when in such a crossroad, its only wise to seek a second opinion from your morality.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
Am i the one who is seeing different things, or am i seeing things differently, or are things really different? The journey to Christianity as described in the The Pilgrim’s Progress could correctly be renamed as Hardening.
As Urantia books puts it…
You cannot perceive spiritual truth until you feelingly experience it, and many truths are not really felt except in adversity.
It makes sense that we must understand why & where we are from, why & where we now are, and why & where we are going. Why adversity has to be the teacher is the MYSTERY!.
Whenever you talk about anything always quote the numbers.
Say 2 out of 20 people have this or that…, 60% of children are this or that…, et cetera.
Have your facts right.
Know what you really know, what you just have a clue about and what you don’t know.
In connection to that, treat all unconfirmed information as rumors and take an effort to research and confirm that bits of knowledge that interest’s you.
Be fast to acknowledge what you don’t know or just shut up.
Tell a story.
If the discussion is about a relative topic, package your point in a story.
Tell it so well that even if someone doesn’t agree with your point, they at least agree with your story; and trust me, you have convinced them already.