Next, the statement can be read not as a demand for flawless virtue, but as a push toward accountability. Being a “good example” does not require sainthood; it requires a willingness to repair, to admit error, and to align actions with stated values. In that light, the alternative—becoming a warning—describes what happens when someone refuses correction and forces reality to teach the lesson instead.
This makes the quote surprisingly practical: if you cannot lead with excellence today, you can still choose humility, transparency, and restraint, reducing the chance that your story becomes a caution others must survive. [...]
