"But we are not in the world to be good but to change it"

Edward Bond’s assertion, “But we are not in the world to be good but to change it,” presents a provocative challenge to conventional moral thinking. The pursuit of personal goodness, often celebrated in ethical discussions, can lead to passivity or mere self-satisfaction. Bond’s words suggest that focusing exclusively on personal virtue is inadequate in the context of social realities. The world, full of injustice, inequality, and suffering, demands more than the quiet or private adherence to moral codes; it demands engagement, disruption, and transformation.

The central tension is between being “good”, conforming to prevailing moral standards, behaving decently, causing no harm, and taking active steps that address the structures and systems perpetuating harm. Goodness, in this view, is not an end in itself, especially if it shelters individuals from uncomfortable truths or justifies inaction. It may even serve as an alibi for complicity by allowing individuals to claim righteousness without ever challenging the status quo. Bond suggests that moral aspirations are hollow unless coupled with courageous action aimed at transforming existing realities.

Engagement with the world, for Bond, involves risk and discomfort. Changing the world means questioning established norms, confronting power, and accepting the possibility of failure or criticism. It prioritizes collective improvement and responsibility over individual moral purity, recognizing that challenging injustice often requires actions that are controversial or that disrupt social order. The emphasis shifts from passive morality to active agency, from self-contentment to responsibility for others.

By valuing change over goodness, Bond advocates for an ethics rooted in solidarity and transformation. Human purpose, in this light, is found not in personal rectitude but in the determined effort to make the world fairer, kinder, and more just. Morality becomes dynamic, a call to action rather than a badge of honor. For Bond, real goodness resides in the courage to act for change.