Root Causes (are primarily) for the bad things in life are Greed, Hatred and Delusion and the good things are born out of the opposite Non-Greed (Generosity), Non-Hatred (Love) and Non-Delusion (Wisdom).

The Greatest Generosity is Non Attachment

The Greatest Quality is Seeking to Serve Others

The Greatest Wisdom is Seeing Through Appearances

 

Refer to book "The Roots of Good and Evil" by Nyanaponika Thera Published by INWARD PATH, Penang Malaysia

 

link to PDF: www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/roots_goodevil.pdf