No.

We cannot control our own lives. We can control the actions we take and the things that we say, but nature will ultimately have its way.

In the same way, we can control the actions we take and the things we say to those we love. We can control the efforts towards those ends. And when people are important enough, we can decide to make heroic efforts towards helping them, risking our own lives if necessary.

But we cannot control the outcome of our efforts.

Allowing someone to fail so that they can learn is one thing but it is a gamble and it is not always the best thing.

If we try to help everyone through self sacrifice, we may have a problem, and most people will not go that far - but then they will also never be canonized for their deeds either.

Good article! Thought provoking.

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