Saturday, November 30, 2013

Day 291, November 30


"To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it."--G.K. Chesterton

Our society is big on rights.  I frequently reflect that it's too bad that we are not so big on being right.  As Chesterton said, having the right is not at all the same as being right.

Take, for example, honesty.  We have the right to be honest.  However, we are not right in being cruel.  If an acquaintance asks me if I like her new hair cut and I really don't, do I have the right to say so?  Yes.  Am I right in saying so?  Not so much.  Surely I can find something I like about her hair.  I can comment on how shiny it is.

So, for today, I am grateful for those who spend more time in being right and less in having a right. 

1 comment:

  1. I love this concept and the example you gave with the haircut.

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