To Choose To Do What is Right

“Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good and kind and brave because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort.” — Dumbledore (Book)

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon, we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” — Dumbledore (Movie)

I present the above 2 quotes from Harry Potter & the Globet of Fire because I am at the stage in my life where I have to make a decision between what is right and what is easy.

Without bringing the specifics, let’s just say that the easy path is either to do nothing or to walk away. And the right thing to do is to confront the problem, propose a solution, and hope that it will not lead to me having to take the “easy” way.

Neutrality, Indifference, and Minority Interests

A few days back, I shared a picture that speaks a thousand words regarding “Neutrality”. And it resonates with me because many years back, I read something about the issue with our society now is that most of us have an “indifferent” attitude. We tell ourselves that our single voice will not help to change anything and that is why we have allowed tyranny, injustice, and unfairness are allowed to reign.

In the book “Skin in the Game” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, he also talks about the power of “Minority Interests” where the minority always gets what they want. While the rest of us might feel that the world is screwed up, when we think about it, the power of the “minority” is really given to them by the rest of us who did not take action for what we think is right.

To Shoulder the Responsibility of Doing what is Right

Here, I want to present another quote because I know that the consequence of doing what is right means that I might have to shoulder a responsibility that I had no intention to take on, unless absolutely necessary:

“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.” — Dumbledore

Apologies

I would like to apologize for the vagueness of this article. I hope that one day I can write this into a proper story once things have already played out. The main reason why I wrote this short article is so that I can make myself braver to really do what is right and to be ready to bear whatever consequences that come along with it. They say that if you put your plans in words, you are one step closer to your goal. If you showed it to the world, you are another big step closer because there will be people auditing you. I hope they are right.