Because if you do—if we all do—then the whole world becomes a very scary place. One where coats get stolen and people get beat up on the playground. Instead of doing the best thing, we sometimes have to settle for the rightest thing.”
I never really thought about behavior and self-control in this way before. We all have intrusive thoughts, gut reactions, and emotional impulses; moments where we want to lash out, say something sharp, or act on whatever we’re feeling. But this quote made me realize how much of the world depends on us not doing that. If every person acted on their first impulse, life would be chaotic and frightening. What feels ‘best’ or most satisfying in the moment isn’t always what’s actually right for the situation. Sometimes the hardest part of being human is recognizing that distinction and choosing restraint over impulse.
