If you are healthy and capable, you have a duty to give something back to society. Living off others without giving anything in return is not just laziness – it is parasitism. Every day, you use roads, medicine, electricity, security, education — everything that is provided by the work of other people. If you only benefit from all of this but offer nothing in return, then you are not “neutral.” You are a burden on society.
✍️ Society only exists when people give something back
A functioning society is based on people interacting with each other. People give their time, energy, skills, or resources — and in return, they get the same thing back or something else in return. This balance only exists when enough members of society participate in maintaining the system.
You don’t have to be rich or famous to give back to society. But you do have to give something. And the real ways to give back to society are not endless:
- Physical work
- Manual labor is the foundation of everything. Construction, agriculture, cleaning, repairs — these are not prestigious jobs, but they are irreplaceable. If you are physically capable and consciously choose to do nothing, then someone else will do your share of the work for you. That is not fair.
- Intellectual work
- Not everyone has to do physical work. If you have knowledge or skills, use them. Teachers, doctors, programmers, designers, scientists — they all drive society forward with their minds. If you just sit around, scroll through your phone, and waste time, you are squandering your potential.
- Raising children
- Simply having children is not an investment. Raising them to be responsible people — that is an investment in the future. Children are the next generation of society. If you are a parent, do so with full responsibility. That is your contribution.
If you don’t do any of the above, you’re not just useless, you’re a parasite. No one expects you to be perfect. Everyone experiences difficulties. But if you are healthy and capable of doing something, yet consciously do nothing, you become a burden on society. And yes, that can hurt. The truth is often uncomfortable.
Simply existing is not a contribution. Life itself does not give you the right to demand comfort while others pay for it with their work. You are not here to simply complain, spend, and wait for someone to feed you. Society owes you nothing if you are not willing to give something in return.
✍️ It’s not too late to start giving
You don’t have to become an entrepreneur or raise five children — you just have to start giving.
- Learn a useful skill.
- Help someone.
- Be useful at work.
- Teach.
Because if you are capable and consciously do nothing, you are not only wasting your life — you are living at the expense of others. And that makes you a parasite.