The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing
The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.
Robert H. Schuller, the preacher of hope and perseverance, once said: “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.” In this one sentence, he uncovered a timeless struggle of the human spirit. Deep within, the conscience speaks. The heart whispers what is right, what is just, what is noble. Rarely are we truly ignorant of the good; more often, we are afraid, or weak, or unwilling. The challenge, then, is not in knowing—but in acting.
This truth is as old as humanity. The ancient philosophers spoke of the same inner law. Socrates declared that virtue is knowledge, yet even he wrestled with the fact that men often betray what they already know. The Scriptures say that the law of God is written on every heart, yet still men stray. Schuller echoes this wisdom: the difficulty is not in discerning the right thing, but in summoning the courage, discipline, and sacrifice to live by it.
History offers countless examples. Think of Abraham Lincoln. He knew from the beginning of his presidency that slavery was a poison to the nation’s soul. The right thing was clear. Yet to act upon it meant risking war, division, and the very survival of the Union. The easy path would have been to delay, to compromise, to speak of freedom without enforcing it. But Lincoln, after long struggle, did what was hard. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, knowing it would set the course for both justice and conflict. His greatness lay not in knowledge alone, but in the courage to act upon it.
On the other hand, history also shows the tragedy of those who knew the right but failed to do it. Neville Chamberlain, facing the rise of Hitler, knew that evil must be confronted. Yet he chose appeasement, the easier road in the moment, hoping to buy peace. The truth was clear, but the action was hard. And in delaying the inevitable, the world was plunged into greater suffering. The lesson is harsh: knowing without doing can bring ruin not only to oneself but to many.
Schuller’s words remind us that the human heart is not blind. When faced with moral decisions—whether to speak the truth or to lie, to show kindness or cruelty, to stand firm or to betray—we usually know, in that silent instant, what the right thing is. But excuses rise: fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of rejection. These fears are the great weight that make the doing hard. Yet it is precisely in lifting that weight that character is forged.
The lesson is luminous: train yourself not only to know, but to act. Knowledge without action is like a seed that never grows. The conscience is your compass, but courage is your strength. When you hear the whisper of what is right, do not smother it with hesitation. Take the step, however costly, and you will find the burden lifts, and the soul shines brighter for it.
Practical action flows naturally from this wisdom. Each day, ask yourself not, “What do I know?” but, “What will I do with what I know?” Begin with small acts—honesty in speech, kindness in deeds, discipline in work. As you train the will in small matters, you will grow strong enough to act in greater ones. When the moment of testing comes, you will not only know the truth, but you will have the strength to live it.
Thus Schuller’s words endure as a call to courage: “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.” Do not falter when the hard part comes. For it is in doing, not only in knowing, that the soul proves its worth, and the legacy of a life is written.
GDGold D.dragon
This quote speaks to the gap between knowing and doing, which I think is something everyone struggles with at times. It’s easy to give advice or have clear knowledge of what needs to be done, but taking action is a different story. Why do we make things harder for ourselves when the solution is right in front of us? What does it take to overcome the hesitation and just do what we know is right?
THDang Thi Thu Hhien
Schuller’s quote made me reflect on how much we procrastinate or overthink things, even when we know what the right thing to do is. Why do we often choose the harder path of inaction or avoidance? Could it be that we fear the changes or challenges that doing the right thing might bring? Is it possible that our emotional resistance is stronger than our rational understanding of what should be done?
MBmath boss
I find Schuller’s insight both comforting and challenging. It suggests that we are not ignorant of what is right, but often we are reluctant to do it. I wonder, why do we let fear or self-doubt prevent us from acting on what we know? Could it be that doing the right thing often requires us to step out of our comfort zones, and that’s where the real difficulty lies?
TNThang Nguyen
This quote makes me think about how often we avoid doing the right thing, even when we know it’s what we should do. We all have moments where we are fully aware of the right path but hesitate to take it. What makes it so difficult to take action, even when the right choice is clear? Is it a lack of confidence, a fear of the consequences, or something more deeply rooted in our nature?
TATuan Anh
Schuller’s statement resonates with me because it speaks to the inner struggle we all face when it comes to doing what we know is right. It’s easy to understand what needs to be done, but following through requires discipline and courage. Why is it so hard to act on what we already know? Is it fear, convenience, or something else that stops us from making the right choice?