Do The Right Thing Because That's The Only Way
Why do you do the right thing? Because it's the right thing to do. The purpose lies in the deed itself.
I've heard the argument countless times: there's no point in doing the right thing unless the whole world follows the same moral compass. But this is a fundamentally flawed way to think about morality.
First, we need to understand what it means to do the right thing. It changes and evolves according to context. If a friend asks you to take part in a horrible crime, your answer should be no. Helping a friend is usually the right thing to do, but we understand context. No matter how many people pressure you into helping that friend, you won't—because you know the situation. Or you might choose to help, knowing that saving your friend is worth it.
If you require a reason to do the good thing, the right thing, then you are morally bankrupt and looking for justification for your corruption. You do the right thing for its own sake—not for recognition or to sound clever. How many times have we cheated our company by filing incorrect expenses? Cheated the government by breaking a law? Cheated on partners? These are countless instances where we choose what's beneficial over what's right.
Every time you pick convenience over ethical living, you add decay to your character. Add enough, and soon your core will be rotten. No clever argument can save your soul then. The world can go to hell six ways to Sunday—don't think about that. Think about what you are doing. How you choose to live your life will determine how your future generation lives theirs. Why would they believe in your ethics when they never saw you follow them?
I understand there are exceptional cases, but I'm speaking in broader terms. Eighty percent of the time, one must do what is right, not what's convenient. Don't cheat. Don't lie to your friends and family. Be an honourable man. Be proud of yourself. These are clichés, yes, but these things make us human. They separate us from acting like animals—slaves to impulses and what's beneficial in the current moment.
The world is filled with good people too; otherwise, it would have collapsed. Add to the goodness of the world. Do the right thing because that's the only way to live.