I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of

The words of Golda Meir—“I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.”—shine with the radiance of a spirit forged in fire. In them we hear not the cautious whispers of the calculating mind, but the thunderous voice of one who chose righteousness over comfort, conviction over compromise, and duty over fear. It is the wisdom of a leader who walked through storms, guided not by the assurance of victory, but by the compass of conscience.

Meir, who rose to become the Prime Minister of Israel, spoke from a life filled with trials that demanded courage beyond measure. She lived through wars, crises, and the constant threat of annihilation. At every turn, there were no guarantees of success. The odds were often grim, and the path uncertain. Yet she pressed forward, choosing action not because victory was assured, but because in her heart she knew it was the right thing. Her words remind us that greatness is not born from safe calculations, but from the audacity to act in truth regardless of the outcome.

The ancients would have honored such a principle. Did not Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans stand at Thermopylae, not because they could win, but because it was the right thing to resist tyranny? They faced certain death, yet their stand inspired all of Greece and changed the course of history. The measure of their greatness was not the immediate success of their battle, but the eternal flame of their courage. So too does Meir’s wisdom echo this truth: what matters is not whether the undertaking prospers, but whether the soul remains steadfast to what is just.

History is full of such examples. Consider Martin Luther King Jr., who marched for justice without assurance that his cause would triumph. He faced prison, threats, and death, yet he moved forward because equality was the right thing. His life, like Meir’s, shows us that the true heroes of humanity are those who do not wait for certainty before acting. They step forward, and in stepping, they carve a path that others may follow.

The meaning of Meir’s words is therefore clear: the worth of an action lies not in its visible success, but in its righteousness. Too often men are paralyzed by fear of failure, weighing outcomes, calculating risks, waiting until victory is certain before acting. But certainty never comes. The future is always hidden, the outcome always beyond our control. To live waiting for assurance is to never act at all. Only those who dare to choose the right thing in the face of uncertainty leave behind a legacy that endures.

The lesson for us is this: live by principle, not by prediction. Do not ask, “Will this make me victorious?” Ask instead, “Is this just? Is this noble? Is this true?” If the answer is yes, then act, regardless of the outcome. For even if the world calls it failure, in the eyes of eternity it will be counted as victory. The courage to do what is right plants seeds that outlast the fleeting winds of worldly success.

Practically, this means living with integrity in the small things as well as the great. Stand firm in your values even when compromise seems easier. Speak truth even when silence seems safer. Choose justice even when it comes with cost. Remember that every act of courage, no matter how small, strengthens the soul and inspires others to do the same.

Thus, let Golda Meir’s words endure as a clarion call: do not measure your life by the tally of your triumphs, but by the steadfastness of your choices. For success is a fleeting shadow, but righteousness is a light that shines forever. To act for the right thing, regardless of the outcome, is to live as one truly great, and to leave behind a legacy that no defeat can erase.