Conforming to a deformed society creates deformed individuals.It is worth remembering, when we sometimes think that everything goes wrong in the community around us. It's so easy to give in to thinking: When other people seem to think of their own interest only - why should I think of others than myself? When other people cheat with their taxes and the government hardly is able to get hold of the money people owe- why should I pay what I am obliged to? When others find loopholes to contribute as little as possible to the common best - why should I not follow their example?
The quote gives the simple reason. There is no good way of adjusting to the distorted norms that seem to prevail in the surrounding community - it is just distorting yourself.
Instead, we must do our utmost to behave, as we feel citizens reasonably should, exhibit a good example and hope, with this example, to contribute to the development of society in a sensible direction. Although it may sometimes feel like an uphill battle.
(Translated from En nødvendig kamp opad bakke, originally published March 18, 2018)