Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference

But sometimes I wonder if the opposite also holds. Is there such a thing as the left-wing excuse? I'm talking about those privileged types who, whenever personal responsibility comes up, start hollering about changing 'the system.' That we first need an in-depth analysis which of course will show it's all the fault of corporations and government, advertising and algorithms, capitalism and crooks - anything to avoid looking in the mirror.

'One of the most difficult things,' Nelson Mandela said after stepping down as South Africa's president,'is not to change society, but to change yourself.'

In short: there are limits. Morality plays a big role in a rich and full life, but it's not everything. And if your inner fire burns bright, no need to stoke it hotter. In any case, don't let yourself be fuelled by a sense of guilt or shame, but rather by enthusiasm and a lust for life. Be ambitious, not perfect. There comes a point when you're fine just the way you are.

Why am I writing this now, and not at the start of the book? Simple: because most of us aren't there yet. Most people still have a long way to go and haven't come close to reaching the bounds of their moral ambition. And then the message is clear: stop wasting your talent and start making a difference.