Do you have principles and values? Do they drive and govern what you can and cannot do, etc? Why do you have these values? Perhaps that's a little broad, but still, most of you should know what I mean.

Yes, I have principles and values. I value liberty, dignity, and understanding, but also overall wellbeing. If someone's in suffering who shouldn't be in suffering, and I can realistically do something about it, then I'll try to do it. I try to minimise suffering, and maximise overall harmony. Liberty can conflict with overall wellbeing, reason, and security, and thus a balance should be set between them. I believe in these things, because I make them matter, in my own mind.

For instance, a hard drug addict, who is suffering as a result of their habit, and in most cases, choice. Fallible, just like the rest of us. Whilst it is their choice, I think that they should be dealt with if they're at a significant risk of harming others, but also if they're at certain risk of killing themselves, and are still valuable contributors to society. It also infringes upon their dignity and wellbeing, but it depends whose fault it is in the first place. You could say that society itself is to blame, if they turn to drugs as an escape mechanism, or because they think that hard drugs won't harm them. Perhaps there are not enough jobs, or society does not protect its needy. Maybe the media sends out irresponsible, and misguiding messages. People should have positive, harmless and neutral liberties, but the more negative liberties must be dealt with, for the good of the individual and society in general. You could argue, that drug addiction is not liberty, at all, but an ironic enslavement to the will of the drug, even if the person chose to take the drug in the first place. It is contradictory. Drug addiction and violence is not liberty, and infringes upon the wellbeing of others.

As for my guiding principles, which tell me how to achieve and how not to achieve something, as according to my values and ethics, I try to take the least harmful, but also most realistic action. I would not contradict my values if I didn't have to, but if I could achieve something better in the long term, by going against one of my values in the long term, I would weigh my options up, and do what seemed most appropriate, and if neccessary, go against one or two values in the short term, for the greater good. Sometimes, you have to go against what you value most to achieve the bigger picture. So, it's very complicated.

What should be the principles and codes which determine actions and conduct, (if any, for some people)?

I hope I haven't confused anyone.

Patience with time, and its many aspects and appreciation of life.

I honestly find it hard trying to be humble, and I can be quite deceptive if I have to. Honesty and loyalty are traits I value when it comes down to serious matters, but deception is an art and a means. So long as I use only neccessary deception in order to achieve a greater goal, I think it's acceptable.

As for your answer, Korytco, care to elaborate, please? That's very vague.

I agree, what you value and think is acceptable is, for the most part, based on culture and upbringing. I do think that values can be changed, but it's not easy to change them once you've found a set of values which seem to work, and stuck with them for a long time.

To add a little, I'm not interested so much as to whether or not what I do in my daily life is right or wrong under my ethics and principles, I've noticed. I just prefer to stick to them, but it isn't a mortal blow to my conscience if I don't. I'm most concerned with which are the most efficient and best overall means to bring about ends, which might be personal, or for the overall good of society, but most often both. My long term goals are very ambitious, and very complicated.