When a person tries to act in accordance with his conscience, when he tries to speak the truth, when he tries to behave like a citizen, even in conditions where citizenship is degraded, it won't necessarily lead anywhere, but it might. There's one thing, however, that will never lead anywhere, and that is speculating that such behavior will lead somewhere.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Acting on conscience might not lead anywhere, but assuming it will definitely succeed is worse.
- In plain terms
- Do the right thing without expecting it to work; expecting it to work is a dead end.
- What can you take from it?
- Act on principle without demanding a specific outcome.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do you do the right thing?
- What if it never changes anything?
Another view
Hope for results often drives necessary long-term movements.
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