“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”
What this quote means
Joseph Stiglitz's quote expands our notion of moral responsibility. It resonates because it reminds us that inaction is also a choice, with consequences. In an interconnected world, not acting against injustice or a problem makes us complicit. It applies to both major decisions and small daily gestures: our silence, indifference, and passivity carry weight. It invites us to a more demanding ethic.
How to apply it daily
Identify a social or personal issue you've ignored, and take an action, even minor, to address it.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”Create visual
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”Create visual
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”Create visual
“This is the best of all possible worlds.”Create visual
“Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting.”Create visual
“He who understands the universe as a whole understands it as the best of all possible worlds.”Create visual