A beautiful quote by William Penn talking about the sense of right or wrong. People tell – when in doubt – to follow the masses. It is more than clear that following the masses is never a good idea, particularly if you blindly do it. This quote is about questioning our thoughts and actions before mindlessly jumping into action.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
William Penn
Whether something is right or not, we bear full responsibility for the situation and its outcome. We can’t blame it on the crowd which led us differently. It still is our decision to choose who we follow. Instead of this blind following, this quote is asking us to question what’s right before doing something. It can still be wrong, but it’s better than following someone else – the decision, actions and outcomes are ours to own.
Right is right and wrong is wrong meaning
What’s the meaning of this quote by William Penn – Right is right and wrong is wrong? The quote brings back the question of morality into picture in alignment with our values. Sometimes being right will mean that we’d need to resist the temptation of following the herd. It also calls for an active resistance for blind conformity of our thoughts and actions.
Even if everyone is for it
Just because lots of people are doing something, it doesn’t make it right. The basis of all actions is in answering the question – WHY? Why are so many people doing it? Is there any logic in that or is it a superstition? Most importantly, do the values/morals of the group support your thoughts?
When we don’t know enough about something, the natural tendency is to assume that because many people are doing something – it must be right. Is it though? Our histories are a clear pointer that groups tend to be wrong. It takes hard work to stand alone and not join a crowd. But its at least your decision driven by a rational reasoning
Quotes on doing the right thing
As a tribute to this quote, here are a few handpicked right is right and wrong is wrong quotes for you. These quotes always fill us with inspiration and if not – a question. Sometimes, that’s equally powerful to pause and take stock of our consciousness and ask ourselves – is this the right thing?
Here is a small collection of quotes on doing the right thing:
Doing the right thing is more important than doing the thing right – Peter Drucker
It takes nothing to join the crowd, it takes everything to stand alone – Hans F Hansen
Life is too short to try and please everyone. Take charge and do what’s right — not what’s popular – Farshad Asl.
It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do – John Baptiste Moliere
You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result – M.K.Gandhi
Always do right – this will gratify some and astonish the rest – Mark Twain.
Ref: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/william-penn-quotes
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We live in a time when wrongs are right because of the thinking that majority is right.
Agree, but I also think that this feeling of majority has a history of its own as well. Easily linked back to power and leadership etc. I guess unless we think for ourselves and are absolutely aware of all of our actions, thoughts and decisions – following the crowd becomes an easy choice. But I suppose easy choices aren’t always the right ones, are they?