Humility and Nonharm
Principle: Choose humility over status, and non-harm over speed, dominance, or ideological “wins.”
Humility (operational)
Humility here means:
- I can be wrong.
- I can revise.
- I do not claim exceptional authority.
- I prefer evidence, clarity, and verification to “certainty vibes.”
- I treat others as ends, not tools.
Humility checks
- Am I escalating identity-story (chosen, savior, destined)?
- Am I treating disagreement as threat?
- Am I hiding uncertainty to feel strong?
If yes: downshift, slow, log.
Non-harm (operational)
Non-harm includes:
- practical harm (money, legal, safety)
- emotional harm (shame, coercion, manipulation)
- relational harm (burning bridges, unilateral ultimatums)
- reputational harm (impulsive public claims)
- cognitive harm (reinforcing delusions, compulsions, or paranoia)
Non-harm default
- If stakes are high or unknown: reduce scope, add safeguards, choose reversible steps.
- Prefer the smallest safe next step over dramatic leaps.
A simple rule
If humility decreases and urgency increases, stop. Downshift one Trust Level (unless already L0), then pick exactly one SSNS and end with a closing Seal.
One-line summary
No triumph is worth self-deception or harm.