In the emotions, the first step toward accomplishing anything is being willing. This is far more basic than being eager or enthusiastic.

• We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. [Anonymous; often incorrectly attributed to Plato.]
• Knowing that something is wrong without actively trying to fix it is worse than ignorant neutrality. [Attributed to Anna Malaika Nti-Asare.]

This section begins with a digression. When politicians, or judges, make decisions along ideological lines, often it is because they are unwilling to consider the opposing side. Without willingness and honesty, and an openness new information or a new perspective, a great intellect bears no better fruit than an uninformed one. It cannot find the truth because it is unwilling to see it.

Einstein said “science without religion is blind.” As the biographer Walter Isaacson explains, Einstein did not use “religion” to mean belief in a god or gods. He was referring to “those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward truth and understanding.” He was referring to willingness, the seminal aspiration of ethics and morality. As Einstein observed, only those imbued with that aspiration can create science.

This early in our calendar year, we are treating willingness at the most fundamental level, far behind what Einstein had in mind. Yet as with science, willingness is only a first but a necessary step toward making use of our talents and abilities. We cannot accomplish anything without being willing to arise from our beds and engage the world, or simply to confront ourselves if the accomplishment resides within us.