We want to have very clear values that we live according to, that we don't renegotiate when we can get something good for ourselves. We want to care equally for all sentient beings, no matter who they are. It takes a lot of meditation and a lot of inner strength to go beyond our very habituated attachment, anger, and apathy. But it's what we must do. Otherwise, we're going to wind up just trying to benefit the people we're attached to and that doesn't make us any different from animals, basically. Animals love the people they're attached to, the people who feed them, and they growl at strangers and enemies. Equanimity is a really important distinguishing factor that human beings can generate that animals can't. So we've got to work on it.

-- Venerable Thubten Chodron