Right Thing, Right Now

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Title: Right Thing, Right Now
Authors: Ryan Holiday
Category:books
Number of Highlights: 5
Date: 2026-03-17
Last Highlighted: 2026-03-17

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Highlights

Until we stop debating, we can’t start doing. We keep debating so we don’t have to start doing. (182)

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“If it’s not right, do not do it,” Truman underlined in his well-worn copy of Meditations, “if it is not true, do not say it…. First do nothing thoughtlessly or without a purpose. Secondly, see that your acts are directed to a social end.” (285)

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Justice can be… …the standards we hold ourselves to …the way we treat people …the promises we keep …the integrity we bring to our words …the loyalty and generosity we give to our friends …the opportunities we accept (and turn down) …the things we care about …the difference we make for people. (494)

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We keep our word to ourselves—that’s discipline. We keep our word to others because it’s justice. (538)

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“The phrase ‘I am not responsible’ has become a standard response in our society to complaints of a job poorly done,” Admiral Rickover once pointed out. “This response is a semantic error. Generally what a person means is, ‘I cannot be held legally liable.’ Yet, from a moral or ethical point of view the person who declaims responsibility is correct: by taking this way out he is truly not responsible, he is irresponsible.” (649)

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Title: Right Thing, Right Now
Author: Ryan Holiday
Tags: TVZ, readwise, books
date: 2026-04-08

Highlights

• Until we stop debating, we can’t start doing. We keep debating so we don’t have to start doing. (Location 182)
• “If it’s not right, do not do it,” Truman underlined in his well-worn copy of Meditations, “if it is not true, do not say it…. First do nothing thoughtlessly or without a purpose. Secondly, see that your acts are directed to a social end.” (Location 285)
• Justice can be… …the standards we hold ourselves to …the way we treat people …the promises we keep …the integrity we bring to our words …the loyalty and generosity we give to our friends …the opportunities we accept (and turn down) …the things we care about …the difference we make for people. (Location 494)
• We keep our word to ourselves—that’s discipline. We keep our word to others because it’s justice. (Location 538)
• “The phrase ‘I am not responsible’ has become a standard response in our society to complaints of a job poorly done,” Admiral Rickover once pointed out. “This response is a semantic error. Generally what a person means is, ‘I cannot be held legally liable.’ Yet, from a moral or ethical point of view the person who declaims responsibility is correct: by taking this way out he is truly not responsible, he is irresponsible.” (Location 649)