The Character We’ve Lost: Lessons of Accountability in an Age of Excuses

A willingness to admit failure and accept consequences is what marks true maturity.

After Pickett’s Charge and the Confederate loss at the Battle of Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee took responsibility for the failed assault and offered his resignation. Adam Cuerden/Public domain

Let’s begin with a little fable found online: “This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

“There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.”