However, the quote also implies a moral nuance: avoiding the wrong things is not automatically admirable if it’s not anchored to a constructive aim. You can avoid conflict by staying silent, avoid failure by never applying, avoid responsibility by keeping everything “optional”—and still harm yourself or others through neglect.
By comparison, building tends to require commitment. It forces choices, tradeoffs, and accountability. This doesn’t glorify recklessness; it elevates purposeful action. Avoidance can be part of wisdom, but without a vision of what you’re trying to create, it becomes a sophisticated form of procrastination. [...]
