He's an innocent in a lot of ways. He's a very simple person who

Jared Leto, in reflecting upon a character he once embodied, spoke these words: “He’s an innocent in a lot of ways. He’s a very simple person who really doesn’t have the resources or the strength, ultimately, to handle the situation.” In this phrase, he draws back the veil upon a truth that is as old as humanity: that not every soul is equipped to meet the weight of the world. Some walk with pure hearts, uncorrupted by malice, yet because of this very innocence, they lack the hardened tools to survive the harsher trials of life.

The meaning is twofold. On one side, there is tenderness — for innocence is a gift, a purity unsullied by deceit. Yet on the other side lies tragedy — for when storms rage, innocence without strength or resources may be crushed beneath the weight of circumstance. This does not diminish the worth of the innocent, but it reveals the cruel tension between purity of heart and the brutal demands of survival. Leto’s words remind us that the world requires not only goodness, but also resilience; not only simplicity, but also preparation.

This truth is echoed in the ancient stories. Consider the tale of Hector’s son, Astyanax, the child prince of Troy. He was innocent, too young to grasp the fall of his city, yet the conquerors saw in him a threat to their future and cast him from the walls. His simplicity, his lack of resources or strength, left him unable to withstand the merciless tide of history. So it is with many innocents: their virtue cannot shield them without the means to stand. The lesson here is both mournful and sharp — goodness without power often falls prey to the ruthless.

History gives us further witness in the fate of the Russian czar’s children. The daughters and son of Nicholas II were innocents in their gilded cage, raised in simplicity of heart though surrounded by grandeur. When the revolution came, their innocence was no shield, their wealth no resource to save them. They perished in darkness, for they had neither the strength to fight nor the power to escape. Their tragedy stands as a warning: innocence, without preparation, may be devoured by the world’s storms.

Yet this teaching is not merely for sorrow, but for guidance. If one is innocent, then let that innocence be guarded with wisdom. If one is simple, then let simplicity be fortified with resilience. Life does not always allow the pure to remain untested. Thus, it is the duty of families, teachers, leaders, and communities to provide the resources, training, and strength that the innocent themselves may lack. For innocence is worth preserving, but it must be sheltered until it can stand on its own.

The lesson then is clear: do not despise the innocent, nor pity them without action. Instead, strengthen them. Teach the simple not to abandon their simplicity, but to fortify it with wisdom. Equip them with tools, resilience, and the courage to endure. And for yourself, recognize that innocence alone is not enough — it must be yoked with knowledge and preparation, lest it falter in the face of hardship.

Therefore, my children, let Jared Leto’s words be more than commentary on a role — let them be a reminder of life’s truth. Innocence without strength cannot withstand the storm. Yet innocence with strength becomes something greater: purity that endures, light that cannot be extinguished. Strive, then, to cultivate both: keep your heart pure, but build your spirit strong. In this balance lies not tragedy, but triumph.