This is a long-known allusion to the well-known saying of Karl Marx, “Being determines consciousness.”

But I noticed one feature of people’s way of thinking, and hence their behavior:

A tendency to constantly lie, even in cases where there is not the slightest reason for it.

(For another, genetically programmed form of lying, see the note: “Order: Lie to yourself!”, 27 VII 2024 )

I consider myself an honest person, since I ONLY lie IN CASES OF EXTREME NECESSITY.

And most people lie constantly, enthusiastically, and often unnecessarily.

“A mysterious phenomenon.”

WHY are they lying???

And this thought came into my head:

They were all beaten in childhood and often mercilessly.

This caused the child both severe physical pain and mental pain from the consciousness of humiliation, from often unjustified punishments (parents “get into the taste” and beat the child or children simply on a whim, because of THEIR bad mood!) It is clear that a living being instinctively sought to avoid such painful sensations. But often without really understanding the reasons for the punishments, it begins to come up with some excuses to avoid punishment. This is how a child LEARNS PERMANENT LIES from childhood. His brain is always working hard on this particular problem: Avoiding pain and humiliation of punishment.

By what?

He cannot physically resist the power of adults (and that’s exactly WHY they beat him, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT PHYSICALLY WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST FEAR OF SERIOUS RESISTANCE!).

One thing is A LIE!

This zoological fear quickly becomes, at first, a conditioned, and then, practically, an UNCONDITIONAL reflex, like throwing a shin when hitting by neurological hammer just below the knee.

The habit of lying becomes an involuntary norm of thinking and behavior.

AND I’VE NEVER BEEN BEATEN IN MY CHILDHOOD! I was verbally and psychologically punished for my transgressions. But they never hit me, and they always explained to me what was wrong or unacceptable about my actions. I always knew, understood and was AWARE of my guilt! I always knew that they would explain to me WHAT I had done wrong and WHY it was BAD! Therefore, there was not the slightest need to lie and deny it: Honesty is the best policy.

Hence the conclusion for parents: If you do not want to raise permanent liars, do not beat the child, but educate him with persuasion and explanation, and most importantly, by PERSONAL EXAMPLE. If he sees that you are constantly lying, and at the same time hitting the child, then he will grow up to be a lying, cruel parent AND a CRUEL SON OR DAUGHTER towards his already old and infirm parents.

So WITH THIS BEATING, you are preparing for yourself an INEVITABLE hard and painful old age without love and compassion!

Children are a boomerang.

If you throw it correctly, it will fly along a certain path and obediently lie at your feet.

If you throw it at random, it returns and hits you on the head with all it’s might!!!

Tertium non datur!

27 VI 2026