Courage to "do the right thing"

Well, this has some interesting points of debate. The list asks the question of "what defines character" and this item proposes that it is the courage to "do the right thing." I submit that "doing the right thing" is not always a clear or evident choice, and is seldom black and white. Further, what is the "right thing" to one person, may very well be exactly the opposite to another. One person might say that it takes courage to do the right thing and keep silent in the face of ignorance or rudeness, while another, with equal validity might argue that it takes courage to do the right thing and point out folly, triviality, and shallowness even if one is pilloried for it. It raises the philosophical problem I have with this list, and with a few others like it. That is that it presents concepts like "character" and "right" as though they are absolutes, and easily defined, but then implicity puts a bias on them. In my opinion, outside of a few clearly evident examples, such concepts... Read more

Easier said than done. Identifying what exactly 'the right thing' is can be very difficult. In fact, sometimes it is only in retrospect that we can truly know that we have done 'the right thing'. This item seems to have been added with the idea that there is a good vs evil fight in the world, and that it is only a matter of choosing this golden idea of 'good' in ones mind which is important, and what comes after will be natural and pure. However, it is probable that as Aristotle argued, there is no such thing as a universal good, and that no matter what you choose, there will be some sort of inquiet and evil as a result. In theory, it is probably a measure of good character, but in practice, it is much more complicated than this.

Like do unto others?

One of my favorite quotes regarding courage is widely attributed to Maya Angelou (although she isn't it's original author by any means): "Courage is the most important virtue because it makes (the practice of) all other virtues possible." That's why 'the right thing' isn't done often, or done at the first opportunity. People will rarely invoke the courage it takes to do what's right, and in doing so open themselves to the indignance and petty jealousies of the cowards who are free to heap scorn upon them, but who know they wouldn't ever summon the guts it takes to do what authentically courageous people do all the time. Another favorite of mine is: Courage is not limited to the battlefield, or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much deeper, and much quieter; they are the inner tests - like remaining faithful when nobody is looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you’re misunderstood.... Read more

It's pretty admirable to do the right thing, but sometimes doing the right thing hurts people more. I normally do the right thing, yet I caught myself in situations where I felt like I just should keep my mouth shut.

we should accept no less of ourselves. we learn right from wrong when we are children and we pass it on to our own children. we all want the best for our children and want them to be the best that they can be so we have to set good examples for the youth today if we expect hope for their future.

Do the right thing so the right thins will be gone to you.

It does take courage to do the right thing especially when you are young and influenced by peer pressure. As you get older and if you are fortunate enough to be raised by good parents, it gets easier and becomes a little more natural. Society also tries to force people to change what they feel or believe is right because "they say" times have changed. Well, right is right and will never change into a wrong. What used to be morally right is now considered old fashioned or outdated. Is there a moral decline? Are we really standing up for what is right or are we just becoming more tolerant of what is wrong?

I admire the person who is able to do this especially when the odds are against them. It would be so easy to conform to the majority even if you believe otherwise.

i admire someone who can do this. to take a stand, do the right thing. especially when others are being wronged.to be brave enough to stand up for wrong doings of society. to have a good conscience, to help others, even if it could be dangerous for themselves. I wish I could be as brave as them.

Though I don't attend church anymore (confusion reigns as to the right denomination), I grew up aware of Judeo-Christian ethics and biblical verses. Doing the right thing is knowing ethics, and listening to your conscience. It shouldn't take courage, it should be natural. Sometimes doing the right thing is doing it quietly, with self-possession. It's also about action, my pet dislike is hypocrites. Don't just quote ethical rhetoric, live it!

ive always been a firm believer in standing up for what you believe in. i have always been one to say how i feel not always to my own benefit. i would rather stand alone than feel like a phony standing with a group i dont agree with

Don't believe that it should take courage to do the right thing. It should be a natural, fluid, non-conscious sort of action...Well for me anyway, a lot has to do with how you were raised and the morals/values that your parents bestowed upon you...thankfully I was raised by tribal elders that only allowed me to spend time with my actual family on religious holidays and spring break...Just kidding mom & dad

tho the right thing means different things to different people, it is always better to show courage and follow what you believe is right than sacrificing your ideas/ethics/morals because of what other people think about you. In response to PBeavr i think you're right in regards to Bush but it becomes a little different when the person doing the right thing has to represent the wants of an entire nation.

Something we all strive for and I think for the most part people do this. Sometimes we fail, we are all guilty of this. If we learn, move on and keep trying to do what is right, that can be an indication of good character.

What should be stressed here is courage. Because the right thing is not always the same thing to everyone, you may actually be attacked by others for following through with your definiton of what's right and what's wrong. But if you still go out on a limb and do what you know in your heart is right, more power to you.

Character is defined by what we do, not what we say. Many well-intentioned folks find some difficulty practicing what they preach when challenged by their own conscience. Do we stand up for matters of principle? Do we admit fault when we accidentally damage someone's property? Do we resist peer pressure that violates our own morals? The most admirable people among us make the better choices, even though it may cost them something.

Persons of character do the right thing not because they are being watched, or because they are afraid of getting caught in misdeeds. They are driven by something inside, or motivated by the golden rule.

I think this kind of sums up the whole list. Anybody can tell the truth when it doesn't benefit them to lie or admit and correct mistakes when they have nothing to loose. It is the choices we make when the right one is harder that define character. I hate it when people take ethics out of this issue. If you do so, you can do whatever you want as long as nobody is looking. REAL GOOD CHARACTER comes from a CONSTANT determination to do the right thing because it is the right thing, not for personal gain, or because you are being watched.

This is a the heart of Good Charachter. How many times have I told my 12 year old son, its what we choose to do when nobody is watching that makes us who we are. It is one of the only gifts we can give ourselves as human beings is the ability to do what is right when it usually seems to be the hard way or the way that gets us no reward. Without it your just another scumbag loser.

Now more than ever, if you have a different opinion you are ostracized at work, school, or your community. Doing the right thing is always hard and rarely popular. . .it is the truest test of character.

In a world that has to ask what's in it for me?, this is a rare trait to have. Sometimes, doing the right thing means to give up something, whether it be time, money or pride, and some people just don't think that it's worthwhile. It's hard sometimes to stand up and do what you know is right when everyone else around you thinks you're an idiot for doing it, but that makes it all the more important that you do it, anyway. People like to say stuff like it's not like anybody would help YOU, so why should you help THEM? You see the meter maid coming from the other direction, and the meter you're passing is blinking 0:00; would you drop a quarter in their meter for them if you had one to spare? No, the owner of the car probably will never know that you've helped them out, but does it make it less worthwhile? So, why do it? It's called EMPATHY, it's called being human, it's not about getting something in return.