I think it matters whether someone has a good heart.

Hear the words of Elon Musk, spoken not as an engineer of machines, but as a seer of human nature: “I think it matters whether someone has a good heart.” These words, simple yet luminous, cut deeper than all the visions of rockets and electric chariots. For in the end, it is not wealth, not brilliance, not power that holds the world together—it is the unseen strength of the heart, and whether that heart beats with goodness.

What is a good heart? It is the wellspring of compassion, the fountain of mercy, the force that seeks not only its own gain but the upliftment of others. The ancients knew this truth well. Strength without goodness becomes tyranny. Wisdom without goodness becomes manipulation. Wealth without goodness becomes greed. But a good heart sanctifies all other gifts, turning power into stewardship, knowledge into service, and wealth into blessing. To possess a good heart is to carry within one’s breast the seed of harmony and the foundation of trust.

Musk, whose hands have shaped engines that reach for the heavens and machines that race across the earth, reminds us that all these marvels are empty if not guided by goodness. For what is the use of reaching Mars, if we forget kindness on Earth? What is the value of innovation, if it serves only the few and leaves the many in darkness? The heart is the compass, and without its true north, mankind wanders into ruin no matter how advanced his tools.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the emperor Ashoka of India. At first, he was a conqueror, fierce and merciless, drenching lands in blood. But when he saw the horror his campaigns had wrought, his heart was pierced with sorrow. He turned from conquest to compassion, spreading justice, mercy, and care for his people. His empire did not weaken; it grew stronger, remembered not for cruelty but for kindness. Ashoka proved that when a ruler bears a good heart, even the vast machinery of empire can be turned toward healing rather than destruction.

Likewise, let us remember those who lacked it. Many kings and conquerors were wise in strategy, bold in battle, and rich in treasure, but because their hearts were hardened, their names are remembered with scorn. Nero of Rome, brilliant in politics, became infamous for cruelty. Robespierre of France, sharp in reason, became consumed by terror. In both, the absence of a good heart turned brilliance into ruin. Thus Musk’s words are not sentiment, but warning: without goodness at the center, even the greatest works collapse.

The lesson is plain for every generation: it matters whether you have a good heart. You may be clever, but if you are cruel, your cleverness will betray you. You may be wealthy, but if you are greedy, your wealth will corrupt you. You may be powerful, but if you are ruthless, your power will devour you. Only the good heart redeems these gifts, turning them into sources of light.

In practice, this means: nurture your heart as carefully as your mind. Train not only in skill, but in kindness. Ask not only, Can I achieve this? but also, Should I, and whom does it serve? Practice compassion daily—in word, in deed, in thought. For greatness is not measured only by what you build, but by the goodness that flows through your building.

So let Musk’s words be carried like an ancient maxim: The good heart is the foundation of all true accomplishment. Guard it, cultivate it, and let it shape your life. For in the end, when all engines grow silent and all empires fade, what will remain in memory is not the reach of your power, but the reach of your heart.