Love.  Just seeing the word makes you feel good.  It’s a cornerstone of just about every society, culture, and religious and spiritual tradition, and with good reason: our lives would be thoroughly miserable without it.But with all due respect to one of my four favorite Beatles, John Lennon was wrong when he wrote that “all you need is love.”  Here’s why.You know that annoying woman behind you at Starbucks this morning who was loudly yakking into her “smart”phone and telling everyone in the place about the intimate details of her personal life?  Must you love this person?  It would be nice if you could, but let’s face it: it’s not going to happen.How about the neighbor who wakes you up on the weekend with his leaf blower that registers the same decibel level as an AC/DC concert.  Must you love this guy?  You’d probably feel better if you did, but again, it’s just not likely you’ll find the strength to do it. Love is best understood as an ideal to which we should aspire, rather than a necessary condition of every relationship we have.  But there are other ethical concepts that are essential in a life well lived.The first is the Do No Harm principle.  As much as we’re tempted to tell the annoying people in our lives to get lost (or words to that effect), the ethically intelligent solution is to restrain such impulses.  It’s not easy to do, but it’s necessary for maintaining some semblance of civility.Another requisite principle calls upon us to respect others, which means, in part, keeping our promises, telling the truth, and not revealing confidences.  You don’t have to love your boss or your company, but you do have to, as Don Miguel Ruiz says in “The Four Agreements,” be impeccable with your word.The principle of fairness or justice is also a key component to being fully human.   Smart businesses and the people who manage them give their employees paid vacation time, sick leave, and health care benefits, not out of love but rather because it’s the just thing to do.As a singer-songwriter, John Lennon (may he rest in peace) enriched the world with his unique combination of personal revelation, witty lyrics, and unforgettable melodies.  But Lennon’s “Magical Mystery Tour” track misses the mark.  Love is only part of the answer to the question, "How should we live?"*   *   *Sign up for my free ethics newsletter here.Order my latest book, Ethical Intelligence, here.Watch my new keynote demo here.