Do We Need Guilt And Shame?

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Do we need guilt to guide our way,
To check the dark, hold it at bay
The selfish urge, the cruel delight—
Would we still choose to do what's right?

 

The villain laughs, untouched, unbowed,
The hero’s sorry, even proud.
Regret becomes the moral sign—
Without it, would we cross the line?

 

Guilt shows we belong, draws the line,
Between what's selfish and what's kind.
But when we've grown, and found what's true,
We’ll leave behind that guilt we knew.

 

The teacher frowns, the parent sighs—
That look that says, “I see your lies.”
We learn to care, to make amends,
To guard the trust of foes and friends.

 

Without remorse, how would we know
If someone’s changed or just for show?
A tear might win a second chance—
But only if it’s not a dance.

 

Guilt shows we belong, draws the line,
Between what's selfish and what's kind.
But when we've grown, and found what's true,
  We’ll leave behind that guilt we knew.

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Yet still we ask—what lies ahead
When guilt and shame are left for dead?
Could love and growth alone suffice,
Without the cost, without the price?

 

Envision now a wiser way—

Where love, not shame, can help us stay.

Where doing right feels clear and free,

Not driven by anxiety.

 

Guilt shows we belong, draws the line,
Between what's selfish and what's kind.
But when we've grown, and found what's true,
We’ll leave behind that guilt we knew.