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“The Declarations impose obligations of righteous thought, emotion, speech and conduct so that the Maatian person is cultivated through the development of character. And character is developed through moral instruction and practice. Thus, in Maatian ethics, instruction and learning are above all for a practical end, self-cultivation-in-community. As Ankhsheshonqi says, ‘It is in the development of character that instruction succeeds.’ Therefore, one is cultivated to do good and abstain from evil. In the Declarations one is obligated: not to be arrogant, covetous, greedy, or quick-tempered, in order to cultivate the mind and emotions; not to lie, curse, argue, engage in quarrelling or be contentious, gossip, slander or talk overmuch, in order to cultivate restraint in speech; and not to demand more than what is due to one, mistreat others, kill, bring forth one’s name for praise, be deceitful, cheat, steal, commit sexually harmful deceitful, cheat, steal, commit sexually harmful acts, stir-up strife, terrorize, use violence or be aggressive, in order to cultivate moral conduct.”
-Maulana Karenga, The Book of Coming Forth by Day: The Ethics of the Declarations of Innocence
