Everyone agrees with all the wonderful advice and ethics written in the books of the sages. Everyone agrees that this is the way to run your life.

Yet each of us has our escape route, to avoid bettering our lives by changing ourselves. We ask, “Were those words truly meant for me, or perhaps for someone else in another time and another place?”

If it is truth, it is meant for you, here, now.

Shelach 5726:24, Leil Simchat Torah 5736:5–7, and countless other talks.