Values and how they are defined on an individual…

Values and how they are defined on an individual basis. Can they be corrupted? If a person fails to fill a hole in the ground, and someone trips on it, he is responsible. Does this mean that a person gets credit for all the bad things he did not do? Can this be used as a rationale for failure to do positive things?

— from True North (Ethics, Integrity, Truth, Values)

In the book

And learn to value a kindness even when it was done to someone else and you owe the giver nothing; that is a finer thing than gratitude alone. Understand, too, that responsibility runs in both directions: you are answerable not only for the harm you do but for the good you fail to do — the man who leaves a hole in the ground unfilled is responsible when someone trips on it. One of my own governing rules: arrange your life, as much as you can, to avoid situations in which you would have to change another person. […] Choose your values on purpose, and teach them. Don't outsource them to the crowd or the culture. Own what you fail to do. Responsibility covers the unfilled hole, not just the harm you cause. Apologize properly when you're wrong. Name it, understand the hurt, make amends. — True North (Ethics, Integrity, Truth, Values)

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