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Am I a Bad Person?

Take this quiz to find out the content of your character.

There comes a point in all our lives where we stop and think, “Uh oh. Am I actually a… bad person?” We can tell you right off the bat that the fact that you’ve thought that, and that you’re about to take this quiz, means you’re probably not. But you want to know for sure!

That's why we’re here to set the record straight. Answer these 12 questions as honestly as you can, and we’ll tell you the truth, straight up. We’d say “no judgment,” but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?

(Keep in mind that this is just an online quiz! It’s impossible to say for certain how “good” or “bad” you are without knowing you personally, and even then it's a tough question, so think of this as more of a roadmap on how to improve—which we can all do!)

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Questions Overview

1. You find a misplaced wallet on the street. What do you do?
  1. See if I can find the owner myself using clues inside. They're probably worried sick.
  2. Turn it into the nearest shop, or to the police. They'll handle it.
  3. Ignore it. That's not my problem.
  4. Take the cash and leave the rest. It's my lucky day!
2. The stranger on the bench next to you starts crying out of nowhere. You:
  1. Gently ask if there's anything you can do. They clearly need help.
  2. Offer them a tissue, but otherwise stay out of it. I don't want to intrude.
  3. Leave them be. They'll work through it by themself.
  4. Get up and leave. Their crying makes me uncomfortable.
3. Your friend is short a few bucks for their meal at a restaurant, and you have plenty of money. You:
  1. Cover the whole meal. I'm not strapped for cash, so it's my treat.
  2. Offer to make up the difference. It's the least I could do.
  3. I’ll pay what’s left, but they have to pay me back. With interest.
  4. Suggest we both dine and dash. It's harder to catch two criminals!
4. If we offered you $500 right now, what would you do with it?
  1. Give it to a charity who can help those who most need it.
  2. Use it to spoil my friends or family.
  3. Stash it away for a rainy day.
  4. Spend it on something I've been wanting, like a new game or gadget.
5. How often do you give money or food to homeless folks?
  1. I keep spare cash or food on me so I can give whenever the opportunity arises.
  2. I give something when I can spare it.
  3. I prefer to give to charity. You never know what a homeless person might use the money for.
  4. I never give anything to homeless people.
6. Choose the option you most dislike:
  1. Seeing other people suffer.
  2. My own suffering.
  3. Interacting with other people.
  4. Seeing my enemies thriving.
7. Where it's culturally expected, do you tip your waiter?
  1. Always, and at least 20%.
  2. Yes, as long as the service isn't atrocious.
  3. Yes, but only if the service is good.
  4. No, I never tip.
8. You're holding a banana peel and there's no trash can nearby. You:
  1. Keep it until I can compost it at home. Anything for the planet.
  2. Hang onto it until I find a trash can while I’m out and about. It’s not much to ask.
  3. Toss it on the ground, but I’d feel super guilty for a while afterward.
  4. Throw it on the ground without feeling even a little guilty. What’s the big deal?
9. Have you ever ghosted anyone?
  1. Never. I think ghosting is cruel.
  2. Maybe once or twice, and I had a good reason.
  3. Several times. I don't think ghosting is a big deal.
  4. I ghost often, as soon as a relationship doesn't serve me.
10. You're on a plane and a child seated behind you is kicking your seat. You:
  1. Politely ask the kid or their parents to stop.
  2. Ask the flight attendant if you can move seats, without making a scene.
  3. Start making passive-aggressive comments until the kid's parents get the message.
  4. Ask a flight attendant to have the child and their parents re-seated.
11. Be honest: How do you handle criticism?
  1. I always listen closely and gratefully, and ask myself if there's some truth to it.
  2. I tend to only respond to constructive criticism that I ask for.
  3. I don't accept it. People should care more about themselves than others.
  4. I immediately look for something about the other person to criticize, too.
12. How do you feel about lying?
  1. Lying is never okay. If the truth is hard, I try to tell it gracefully.
  2. Lies are okay if they don't hurt anyone, or protect other people.
  3. I sometimes lie to protect myself, even if it hurts others.
  4. I often lie just for fun.

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Of course, nobody's perfect, and everyone has room to grow and learn more about their fellow human beings. Keep expanding your horizons by chatting with diverse voices, keeping an open mind, and never getting complacent in your do-gooding. Now go out and keep letting that light shine!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Help-Others"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-from-Others"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Help Others: Thoughtful Ways to Make a Difference","id":235206,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Help-Others","image":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Help-Others-Step-15.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Help-Others-Step-15.jpg","alt":"How to Help Others: Thoughtful Ways to Make a Difference"},{"title":"How to Learn from Others","id":12579792,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-from-Others","image":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Learn-from-Others-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Learn-from-Others-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Learn from Others"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You're better than most!","meaning":"In the rankings of \"villain\" to \"saint,\" you're definitely trending toward saint. You're mindful of other people and know how to lend a helping hand when it's needed. Sometimes you might be absent-minded or say things you don't mean, but hey, we're all just humans trying to be people here, and we can't all be perfect all the time. What matters is that you do your best to do right by other people, and continue to strive to make yourself and the world around you a better place to be.

One great way to do that is to take a moment to chat to someone you don't normally talk to. Consider their own needs, wants, and struggles, and remember that though they may differ from yours, they're just as significant. Then ask yourself: How can you help?","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Show-Empathy"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Forgive-Yourself"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Show Empathy","id":698460,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Show-Empathy","image":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Avoid-Conversation-on-Public-Transportation-Step-20.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Avoid-Conversation-on-Public-Transportation-Step-20.jpg","alt":"How to Show Empathy"},{"title":"How to Forgive Yourself","id":832059,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Forgive-Yourself","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Forgive-Yourself-Step-21.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Forgive-Yourself-Step-21.jpg","alt":"How to Forgive Yourself"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You mean well!","meaning":"You might not be a saint, exactly (who is?), but you're trying to be, and that's what counts. When you mess up, you feel a pang of guilt, and that guilt is more than enough evidence that you're not a bad person. When it gets down to it, you make good decisions that help others. It's the other times you might struggle with selfishness, pettiness, jealousy, or other little vices. But everyone struggles and gives in to these; the trick is recognizing it and trying to do better next time.

As an exercise, next time you feel that pang of guilt over something you did wrong, ask yourself: Why was that the wrong choice? What would have been a better choice? What choice can I make that'll leave me feeling good, not guilty? Being mindful of these questions helps to get you on the road to more goodness. You're already well on your way!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Considerate"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Sensitive-to-Other-People's-Feelings"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Be Considerate","id":1979704,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Considerate","image":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Be-Considerate-Step-16-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-Considerate-Step-16-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Be Considerate"},{"title":"How to Be Sensitive to Other People's Feelings","id":607708,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Sensitive-to-Other-People's-Feelings","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Be-Sensitive-to-Other-People%27s-Feelings-Step-19-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-Sensitive-to-Other-People%27s-Feelings-Step-19-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Be Sensitive to Other People's Feelings"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You have opportunities to grow!","meaning":"No, you're not a bad person, or a little goblin, or a tiny cartoon devil with horns and a pitchfork. You're just human! And the thing about humans is that we tend to mess up, but we're also able to learn from our mistakes. The fact that you're taking this quiz means you care about whether or not you're good, and that counts for a whole lot. Now's the time to start learning.

Here's a little exercise: Wherever you are, zero in on a single person. Don't stare, but observe them for a moment and ask yourself: Who are they? What do they enjoy doing? What are they worried about right now? Pondering these questions about other people can help you to become more aware of the lives around you, and better equipped to lend a helping hand when it's needed.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Apologize"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-24-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-24-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"},{"title":"How to Apologize","id":18166,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Apologize","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Apologize-Step-25.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Apologize-Step-25.jpg","alt":"How to Apologize"}],"minimum":0}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"True<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My True Color Personality Quiz"},{"title":"Introvert or Extrovert Quiz","id":13737789,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Introvert-or-Extrovert-Quiz","image":"\"Introvert<\/picture>","alt":"Introvert or Extrovert Quiz"},{"title":"Type A B C D Personality Test","id":13714623,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Type-A-B-C-D-Personality-Test","image":"\"Type<\/picture>","alt":"Type A B C D Personality Test"}],"number":1},{"text":"Tell me more about how I can grow.","result":"Love to hear it! Let's find some ways to make you a better version of yourself with these quizzes:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What Kind of Reality Check Do I Need Quiz","id":13747022,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Reality-Check-Quiz","image":"\"Reality<\/picture>","alt":"What Kind of Reality Check Do I Need Quiz"},{"title":"What's Your Red Flag Quiz","id":13203021,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/What's-Your-Red-Flag-Quiz","image":"\"What's<\/picture>","alt":"What's Your Red Flag Quiz"},{"title":"How Big Is My Ego Quiz","id":13920175,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/How-Big-Is-Your-Ego","image":"\"How<\/picture>","alt":"How Big Is My Ego Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

Becoming a Better Person

What do you think makes someone a “good person?” Are they selfless? Do they go above and beyond to help or protect other people? Do they live by a religious or moral code? Do they have extraordinary powers, like smarts or strength? Are they a role model?

The truth is, “good” is often subjective, and what some of us see as “correct” or “moral” might seem backwards or flawed to other people. For example, a simple religious ceremony for some might be a serious “sin” for others. Things are rarely black and white. So how do we strive to be better, if “better” isn’t always straightforward? Well, try starting here:

Considering Others
One of the best ways to start thinking like a good person is to ask yourself how other people think! If you’re only focused on yourself—your own needs, wants, and worries—it’s easy to overlook the needs and wants of others. As a result, you might get what you want, but at the expense of someone else. Make a habit of asking yourself questions like:

  • Will my action hurt someone else?
  • Can I do something right now to make someone else’s day easier?
  • How would I want to be treated, if I were that person?

Taking Action
Being a better person doesn’t just mean asking yourself tough questions. You also have to take action to make the world around you a better place. Remember: It’s what you do, not what you think, that determines the content of your character. If you’re at a loss for some ideas on how you can get out there and make a change, consider trying something like:

Helping Yourself Sure, doing good things for other people is a big part of being a good person. But good people are also kind and understanding to themselves. Giving yourself a little grace and room to grow makes you happier, healthier, and more capable of extending that grace to other people. Every so often, remind yourself of the following:

  • Everyone makes mistakes, including me. What matters is that I learn from them.
  • I need to think of my own needs, as well as the needs of others, so that I don’t burn out.
  • I don’t have to be perfect to be good.
  • As long as I’m trying my best, I’m being the best person I can be.


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Reader Success Stories

  • Tinushi

    Mar 18

    "It's nice to know whether I'm a nice person or not!!!"
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