I don't believe that if you do good, good things will happen.

The voice of Helen Mirren, both artist and thinker, rises with honesty and humility when she declares: “I don't believe that if you do good, good things will happen. Everything is completely accidental and random. Sometimes bad things happen to very good people and sometimes good things happen to bad people. But at least if you try to do good things, then you're spending your time doing something worthwhile.” Here is no illusion, no false promise of simple justice, but a sober recognition of the chaos of existence—and the strength that comes from choosing goodness despite it.

The meaning is clear: the world does not always obey the laws of fairness that we wish it would. Good people may endure tragedy, while those who act with cruelty may prosper. Fate is unpredictable, and the pattern of fortune is woven in ways that no mortal eye can fully understand. Yet Mirren’s wisdom is this: even in a world where justice is not guaranteed, to live in kindness, to act with integrity, to do what is noble, is to give meaning to one’s fleeting days. Goodness is not a transaction with fate, but a way of shaping the soul.

This teaching echoes the lessons of the ancients. The Stoic philosophers of Rome—such as Marcus Aurelius—spoke often of the indifference of fate. They taught that the only true possession of man is his own virtue, for the world may crush the body, but it cannot command the will. To act rightly, even in a universe indifferent to our pain, is the highest form of victory. Mirren’s words carry this same ancient wisdom: goodness is not about reward, but about living in alignment with what is worthwhile.

History gives us countless examples. Think of Sophie Scholl, a young German woman who resisted the tyranny of the Nazis through the White Rose movement. She did good not because she expected reward, but because it was right. Her life was cut short by execution, proof that bad things do indeed happen to the good. Yet her sacrifice lives on as a beacon, inspiring generations to resist oppression. Though she found no earthly reward, her actions were worthwhile beyond measure.

The deeper truth is that goodness is its own reward. It shapes the character, enriches the heart, and leaves behind ripples that extend long beyond our lives. To act with cruelty, even if it brings wealth or power, corrodes the soul. To act with compassion, even if it leads to loss, strengthens the spirit. The measure of a life is not in what it gained, but in what it gave.

The lesson for you, seeker, is this: do not be deceived into believing that every act of kindness will bring fortune, or that every act of cruelty will meet punishment in this life. This is not the way of the world. But choose goodness anyway, for it makes your life meaningful, and it leaves the world brighter than you found it. To live otherwise is to spend your days in vanity and emptiness.

Practical actions follow. Each day, choose one act of kindness, expecting nothing in return. Speak truth, even when falsehood brings easier gain. Help another, even if no reward will come. Live by the compass of worthwhile action, not by the shallow promise of reward. In this way, your days will be spent not in chasing luck, but in cultivating a soul of strength, beauty, and peace.

So remember, children of tomorrow: the world is not always fair, and fate is fickle. But you are not measured by fate—you are measured by your deeds. Though bad things may fall upon the good, and blessings upon the undeserving, still choose to do what is right. For in doing so, you will live a life of true worth, and leave behind a legacy that time itself cannot erase.