Welcome to
my countdown of the best morals around, I hope you’re patient with me because
this is the first time I’ve done this. The children’s series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic features
a freaking menagerie of moral lessons for kids, some of which we can all learn
from. In the hardships of life, a sudden gush of optimism can bring perspective
and the episodes illustrating these lessons radiate that. From friendly
reminders, to conventional wisdom-defying feats, each on this list says something
important that I agree with. I will rate the lessons, top down, based on their
friendship letters, episodic denouements, how well I feel the story conveyed
them and the impression they left on me. With that said:
15. The basics of critical thinking
Episode:
MMMystery on the Friendship Express
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned it's not good to jump to
conclusions. You have to find out all the facts before saying somepony did
something. If you don't, you could end up blaming somepony for something they
never did. This could hurt their feelings. And it could make you feel really
foolish. So from now on, I will make sure to always get all the facts.
This is
really simple; too bad many of my fellow human comrades don’t get this. You
don’t blame someone based on an accusation, because who knows if it’s true or
not? You don’t declare your conclusion and then work your way from it. Critical
thinking 101, question everything, listen to the evidence; if you can neither
prove, nor disprove something, there is no reason to believe it. This would’ve
been higher on the list if the episode itself addressed it more firmly. Pinkie
is on a woozy roll and accuses everyone, before Twilight interrupts and prods her
to find the real culprit, and they do. It was more about the mystery than about
the error Pinkie committed, but the spirit of the lesson remains and stands in its
own right, it does.
14. Know
your boundaries, regardless of what you see
in a person
Episode: Griffon
the Brush Off
Dearest Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that it's hard to accept when
somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who's not so nice. Though
it's impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to
control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the
difference between a false friend and one who's true will surely come to light.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
This one is
strangely specific: If you know a friend who in turn has another friend, who
happens to be an asshole, but your friend
doesn’t notice it, what do you do? Do you walk up to them and go: “Hey, that
guy’s an asshole, man!” Whaddaya do? You withstand respectfully is whad you do,
it’s the only right option, unfortunately, if you want to be on equal terms.
Love and accept, and when you can’t accept, tolerate, it’s as much your
friend’s choice that they want to spend time with you as it is that they want
to spend time with anybody else. There may be exceptions to this, like when
someone might actually be in physical danger if they don’t cut ties with a
person but generally, this is a sound policy to have.
13.
Pretense is bad, but personal confidence precedes that
Episode: Green
Isn't Your Color
Dear Princess Celestia,
Being a good friend means being able to keep a
secret, but you should never be afraid to share your true feelings with a good
friend.
A promise
is a promise, even if telling might be the best option in the long run. This
one is actually quite contentious because there are situations where the truth
matters more than trust. Still, I think that generally, one precedes the other.
The episode was tangential in this respect, because it didn’t draw a clear
line. The friendship letter above further confuses things because, as it turns
out, Pinkie telling the truth is what resolves the conflict. I do applaud the
episode for what it was going for though, as it’s something really special for
a show about pastel-colored, anthropomorphized ponies.
12. You
needn’t be mean to be right
Episode: Putting
Your Hoof Down
Dear Princess Celestia,
Sometimes it can be hard for a shy pony like me
to stand up for myself. When I first tried it, I didn't like the pony I became,
but I learned that standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you
are. Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant or mean.
It is the
truth! You don’t have to be a douchebag to disavow douchebags, you can if you
want to but you don’t have to. If someone bothers you, talk to him or her like
a real human being. Don’t kick them in the groin, unless they’re into that kind
of thing, make peace and remember what Fluttershy taught you. We’re all people
after all, are we not? Are we not!?!??!?!?
11. Face
your fears, because they won’t go away on their own
Episode:
Sleepless in Ponyville
Princess Luna: Hmmm... Is the headless horse
really what frightens you the most?
Scootaloo: Mm-mm. I'm afraid Rainbow Dash will
find out I'm not as tough as she thinks I am.
Princess Luna: Everypony has fears, Scootaloo.
Everypony must face them in their own way. But they must be faced, or the
nightmares will continue. [...] Face your fears!
A powerful
lesson from a powerful episode about a powerful filly, face your fears! It’s
either now or later, when they’ll manifest in much more dangerous forms. We all
have a baggage as people, experiences good and bad, which we carry with us.
It’s up to us to unpackage, lest we want to be a burden on the people around
us. Not really much to say, great lesson, much to extrapolate, and a good
personal story that uses every shade of canon to it’s advantage, i.e. the
inclusion of Luna, the Everfree forest, Scootaloo’s dubious backgrounds, etc.
10. Live in
the here and now
Episode: It's About Time
Spike: I don't get it. If future Twilight
wasn't warning you about a disaster, then what was she trying to tell you?
Twilight Sparkle: [giggles] I don't know. But I
do know one thing. I look ridiculous.
Spike and Twilight Sparkle: [laughing]
Spike: Yeah, you do!
Twilight Sparkle: And it's all because I
couldn't stop worrying and let the future handle itself! Well, not any more.
From now on, I'm gonna solve problems as they come, and stop worrying about every
little thing!
I think people
who live in the present generally turn out happier than the rest. After all,
what other place is there to live your life than within the confines it
occupies, because the future never happens, until it has already occurred.
Introspection is fine to a point but it does entail a sense of past-mindedness
also, that might just do you more harm than good.
9. Always
take your loved ones seriously and, conversely, don’t blow things out of
proportion!
Episode:
Lesson Zero
Applejack: [clears throat] Dear Princess
Celestia, we're writin' to you today because today we all learned a little
somethin' about friendship.
Fluttershy: We learned that you should take
your friends' worries seriously.
Rainbow Dash: Even if you don't think that she
has anything to worry about.
Rarity: And that you shouldn't let your worries
turn a small problem...
Pinkie Pie: ...into an enormously huge
entire-town-in-total-chaos Princess-has-to-come-and-save-the-day problem!
Applejack: Signed, your loyal subjects.
I can just
imagine Celestia opening this letter, trying to make sense of every other
clause in which a different voice is used. The mane six are so distinct, they
have so recognizable archetypes yet when you look a little closer, you can see
the nuances on them, personal distaste is a different thing to different
people. Yeah, don’t be negligible because you don’t think it matters ‘cause if
it matters to them, it matters on some level. Maybe it is important, or maybe it isn’t, maybe they’re the one blowing things out of proportion, which would make
the whole thing totally unnecessary altogether. Whichever one, if you have any
scruples, you will dissociate yourself from these terrible alternatives to
being a decent person.
8.
Siblingship drools, or does it?
Episode: Sisterhooves
Social
Rarity: Very well then, what shall we write to
the Princess?
Sweetie Belle: I'll start. Havin' a sister is
just about the bestest thing in the world. But it sure isn't the easiest.
Rarity: I agree that being sisters is a
wonderful thing, but it takes teamwork. Sometimes it's about compromising.
Sometimes it's about accepting each others' differences. But mostly, it's about
having fun together. Even if it means getting your hooves a little bit dirty.
Sweetie Belle: A lot dirty.
Rarity: A little bit dirty.
Sweetie Belle: A lot dirty.
Rarity: A little bit dirty!
Sweetie Belle: A lo-
Spike: Hold it, hold it! How about "a
medium amount of dirty, not too little, not too much, just right"?
Rarity and Sweetie Belle: Deal!
This one
has a special place on this list because while the lesson, as presented, seems
very tangential, the episode conveyed it brilliantly. Yeahyeahyeah, it takes
teamwork, it’s about compromising, you have to accept each other’s differences,
blablablah! But you just watch the episode and tell me you weren’t struck
thereafter, okay? You have to see past all the mindless quarrels, of which
there are many, and look at the bigger picture, and remember what’s important,
that, instead of waddling neglectfully with your emotions. This is what I got
out of the episode, if you have some other interpretation, that’s okay too but
I reserve it as the number 8 best moral lesson: the good, the bad and the in-betweens
of being a sibling.
7. You are
a product of your roots, and that ain’t something to be ashamed of
Episode:
Sweet and Elite
Rarity: Dear Princess Celestia, I wanted to
tell you about the important lesson I learned during my visit.
Princess Celestia: Now that I would like to
hear.
Rarity: I learned that no matter where you go
in life, you should never forget that you are the product of your home and your
friends. And that is something always to be proud of, no matter what.
You are you
own person; don’t be ashamed. The standards people hold you to be moot. Moot!
Yarrrrrr, ye staunch conformist mateys shan’t see the the end of it, I tell ya.
All lubbers on board, yaRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Damn it, wórd,
blar-hue-hye-houoieh. am lossing allf mye integerity, um, jesh, itts ay noncomformist
massage, dort ståndt aversesive too wat yo ärgh baycoose det es goings tsö nlread
yu duwn u darghk paf… im a pirate. Dot arske,
I merély go wif da curens. (I'm sorry.) (Edit: I'm not.)
6. Don’t
blame yourself, man!
Episode: The
Last Roundup
Dear Princess Celestia,
It's a tad easier to be proud when you come in
first than it is when you finish further back. But there's no reason to hide
when you don't do as well as you'd hoped. You can't run away from your
problems. Better to run to your friends and family.
You
shouldn’t oblige yourself to do something that you’re not obliged to do.
Especially when it becomes “your fault” for failing to deliver. If you hold
yourself to whatever standard and then explode at yourself for not living up to
it, which one’s the issue? Is it you or is it the standard? To what capacity
did you actually try to live up to that standard? What, you tried really hard?
Did it ever strike you that it might be the standard that’s the problem and not
you? No? I thought as much.
5. You
can’t please everyone and, conversely, don’t reach out the olive branch and hit
someone with it at the same time
Episode: Suited
For Success
Dear Princess Celestia,
This week my very talented friend Rarity
learned that if you try to please everypony, you oftentimes end up pleasing
nopony, especially yourself. And I learned this: when somepony offers to do you
a favor, like making you a beautiful dress, you shouldn't be overly critical of
something generously given to you. In other words, you shouldn't look a gift
horse in the mouth.
This one is
like number 9 on steroids: the more specific you are, the more universal it
becomes. And by the way, Twilight, that’s not funny. Anyway, Rarity tried and
tried and tried to make the perfect dress for everybody (or *everypony
blahahaguhaghaghagu) but she overcomplicated it, what she really needed to do
was follow her feelz and try her darndest according to her gentile
proclivities. If the mane six had decided to complain anyway, they’d be
assholes, but it’s also on Rarity that she accepted their loony demands without
complaint. A lesson, very poignantly delivered, we’re moving on up.
4. One drop
in the ocean more or less, makes the difference, and it’s all inside your head
Episode: Hurricane
Fluttershy
Dear Princess Celestia,
Sometimes you can feel like what you have to
offer is too little to make a difference, but today, I learned that everypony's
contributions is important, no matter how small. If you just keep your head
high, do your best and believe in yourself, anything can happen.
This
episode, through whatever freakish act of nature, actually has two morals. The
first one, as delineated in the friendship letter above, is about the optical,
um, delusion of the human consciousness. You know, like Einstein said, we’re
all seemingly separated from one another; the actions of a single human being
can’t make a difference, that’s what we think. Truth is that we’re all, rather,
part of this duplicitous goo of people who meet one another every day without
even knowing it. Know the world around you and know that people en masse can be
a powerful tool, both for good and bad.
The second
is never stated flatly, but it’s very discernible if you watch the episode.
Social anxiety, a.k.a. “everybody hates me”-syndrome is the focus. It can be
very crippling, and in extreme cases, a person can’t even be in the same room
with people they’re not already intimately familiar with. Fluttershy suffers
from paranoia, instigated – it seems – by things that happened long ago, before
she even came to Ponyville. This is illustrated brilliantly by the POV visuals
that show just how she feels around other ponies: the eyes, the laughs and the
vapid insults, everything she remembers. But it’s all a big fat lie! Ponies don’t
hate you, ponies don’t even care that you’re being a dunce, why would they?
They have their own lives to bother with, you don’t even matter one squat bit.
Am I not encouraging? I don’t feel I can do it justice, honestly; you should
watch the episode yourself if you haven’t and if you have, watch it again! It’s
one of the best ones in the series.
3.
Acceptance vs. tolerance
Episode: Look
Before You Sleep
Dear
Princess Celestia,
It's hard
to believe that two ponies that seem to have so little in common could ever get
along. But I found out that if you embrace each other's differences, you just might
be surprised to discover a way to be friends after all...
I have
always found the concept of tolerance ridiculous, all it means that I should
stand you, even though I can’t. Why, can’t we just not stand each other and go about our day? Or maybe we do stand
each other but we can’t stand aspects of the other’s personality? So we
tolerate each other, what a mangled view of friendship in my opinion. Am I or
am I not very fond of rhetoricals? Hohohohohoho, I think I won back the crowd.
Yes, um, no, we accept each other’s
differences, right? The mere concept is ridiculous; it’s a misnomer of the
highest degree. A relationship like that won’t last more than two years, tops,
I can imagine. I would like to add that, as I see it, being “tolerant” is not
the same as not stopping someone to
speak because they disagree with you, since you’re not performing an act by
performing the act of not performing an act. In other words, don’t ascribe
value to not being evil, please.
2. Be modest
in the face of adversity
Episode: Applebuck
Season
Dear Princess Celestia,
My friend Applejack is the best friend a pony
could ever have, and she's always there to help anypony. The only trouble is,
when she needs help she finds it hard to accept it. So while friendship is
about giving of ourselves to friends, it's also about accepting what our
friends have to offer.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
This is
something I had trouble with when I was younger, I’m better now but I know how
it is. The indignation you feel; they’re going to help you? Pfft, you don’t
need no help, your precepts forbid it and so, you fall. Everything can go to
hell, but you don’t care, either you do it yourself or you don’t do it. Don’t
be fooled, this is a completely ego-fueled notion; there’s nothing rational about it. There’s nothing nefarious about their
want to help you and there’s nothing but in your want to refuse, and the faster
you realize this, the better.
Now, for le
grande finale, drrrum roll please… *dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-dur-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru*
1. Pride is
as much a virtue as humility
Episode: Boast
Busters
Dear Princess Celestia,
I have learned a very valuable lesson about
friendship: I was so afraid of being thought of as a showoff that I was hiding
a part of who I am. My friends helped me realize that it's okay to be proud of
your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off...
Especially when you're standing up for your friends.
A very
valuable lesson indeed, it was this or number 2 but in the end, I opted for Boast Busters because what’s worse:
egoism or a lack thereof? You have to believe in yourself to believe in what
you do, low self-esteem erodes on self-motivation and in the middle of it all,
there are people telling you to act with “grace and humility” when all you’re
trying to do is to give your ego a little push. Rather, it’s absurd. It’s a
100% arbitrary and completely vapid notion that should’ve gone with the
currents forever ago. “Don’t express yourself outside of these imaginary walls!”
That’s the contention. Well, fuck it, if you want to be arrogant, be a little
arrogant, there’s absolutely, positively nothing wrong with that. As long as
you’re not an asshole, I couldn’t care less. But that’s just me.
Thank you
for reading!
