Do You Do the Right Thing?

In the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, there’s a powerful lesson: “If you want to judge the character of a person, don’t look at their best performance. Rather, observe how they perform their day-to-day duties — that will reveal everything about them.” This simple yet profound idea emphasizes that life’s true test lies not in grand moments but in the routine, everyday choices we make.

Most of us may never sign a nuclear deal or stand at the center of high-profile events. Yet, life presents us with countless small situations requiring moral decisions. How often do you pause and reflect on whether you consistently do the right thing, no matter how trivial the circumstance? When faced with even the smallest decision, do you act with integrity, or do you let convenience or indifference guide your actions?

We’d all like to think that, based on our understanding, wisdom, and experiences, we wouldn’t intentionally do anything wrong. But when we look around, the wrongs are there. And who is responsible for these? People just like us. These instances of wrongdoing don’t happen in isolation — they are the sum of countless everyday choices, many made in silence.

Doing the right thing goes beyond minding our own business. It means ensuring that what happens around us aligns with righteousness — even if it means stepping into uncomfortable situations. Our inner voice often alerts us when something is wrong right before our eyes. In those moments, do you speak up? Or do you quietly step aside, justifying your inaction as…