I have been alive long enough to understand something for a fact, that greed is a personality trait present in animals, and worse in mankind. Is it a good thing, or is it a bad thing? I do not know. Greed falls under the lowest level of the human nature, a survival instinct.
The concept greed is a very complicated subject matter, the definition for example. At what point should actions be classified as greed? Is it greed when one desires, or takes too much of what is needed? Perhaps, it is greed when one desires, or takes what isn’t and may never be needed? I cannot say for certain. But what i do know is, greed is definitely in the situation when one keep to themselves so much resources than they will ever need, while others perish for lack of that same resources.
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
Built within the heart of everyone, is the desire to be better, to be recognized, to be respected, or even feared than everyone else. Humans strive to get something others do not have. And there are only a few ways that could happen. They either steal it, create it, or they prevent others from getting it.
This is how the leaders, innovators, creators are born. But what differentiates the greedy from the non-greedy?
Think about it for a second. Even in a just society, where everything one needs is available to everyone, where everyone is included, and respected, some individuals will still rise to take charge for themselves, more resources than they will ever need, just so they could be better than everyone else.
Greed is contagious, just like a virus, it spreads from individuals to another. Greed is the biggest threat to building a just society. Given that greed is a natural instinct, how does the society contain it?
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT TAMED THE EGO HAS NO PLACE IN LEADERSHIP OR POSITION OF POWER.
One of the personality traits of an individual who has not tamed the ego is greed. And these are the worst set of individuals to hold leadership, or any position of power.
To these set of individuals, it is always about selfish personal interests. They need to constantly be in control at all cost, and everything is on the table to achieve this. Their main objective is to maintain personal interests, and the wellbeing of the society comes second.
They will throw the society in chaos, hoard resources, and cause regressions in the society, if it will maintain their personal interests. Everything, and everyone else comes second in their agenda.
It is absurd to assume that this set of individuals will ever create a better society. A just society is not in their interest, because that will mean, abandoning their selfish interests and desires. No, they do not want a better society. They meant preach it, but they do not really want it, because then they will have to surrender their special privileges. They only want a better life for themselves, so they can stand so high up, and look down on everyone else.
©️ Victor E. Ojei, 2025.
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VICTOR OJEI 
The part that bothers me, is I know we have achieved nowhere near the level of heinous behavior we are capable of. Very thought provoking article.
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Thank you for taking the time to read, and commenting your thoughts.
It is true that we are capable of all sorts of horror, but we are also capable of all sorts of good too. This is why personal discipline and spiritual growth should be promoted in individuals, most especially in leadership.
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I wish you could mass email your article to all of our leaders in the world. I know it applys to us all but I feel like because they are our leaders they need it the most. As always your post was a great read and well written Damon
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Thank you Jam, for your comment.
The truth is, they know this. But they are too lost in the game to make any meaningful change. It is a war of ego, and greed is at the center of it all.
The more self aware we become, the quicker change will arrive.
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