The good we don't do

March 30, 2025

"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do." -Voltaire

Most people are familiar with the idea of "sins of commission". You are guilty of all the bad things you do. Religious or not, it's an easy idea for most of us to stomach.

But not doing bad doesn't mean you're good. It just means you're not bad.

"Sins of omission" is what this quote is describing. "Not my problem" had no place in Voltaire's vocabulary, and if you aspire to be good, it has no place in yours either.