On morality and such- transition of perspective: Why cant practical life be according to ideals?

All children first hold idealistic views on right and wrong, these are fiercely thought over in teenage/post-teenage, many a youngster would have said to themselves, "I don't know how people can do such things, I can't do such lowly things". But somewhere people cross that line and get transformed into adults, doing those very same things, only that now they shout less (they don't want to face their own hypocrisy, or believe that they have transitioned towards 'practical' living).

Some of them don't find it wrong anymore, they sleep a deep sleep, conveniently "blaming the system", or "everyone does it & so can I". So it is more like, when you can't afford/access something, criticize it as wrong/immoral/cheap, but when you have the means to do it, coolly do it while blaming the system/society! So the earlier criticism wasn't out of high moral values, it was just out of jealousy at the person who is able to enjoy a free lunch while you struggle. But when you get the opportunity to free lunch, do it guiltlessly!

Well, I always said, and I continue to say, "I can't be like this", it is because I am well aware that I am a thinker, I can't absolve myself of my active role in doing wrong things, I can't feel free of guilt by blaming the system when it's my turn, ethics were not a dinner table gossip discussion for me, they were meant to be sincerely followed. And I have turned away free lunches when I had access to them, life is not easy, but it is certainly blissful, most importantly I have not converted my convictions into smoky plumes of hypocrisy that sting the heart and sear the eyes. I have rejected the way to quick success, but the slow success will be a sweet one. I don't understand why it is not possible to live life in this "ideal" state of mind, why cannot mankind strive to convert "ideal" into practical?

I am fortunate that I didn't have any encumbrances & can afford to think only for myself in the pursuit of my ideal.

Roopa didn't have that choice, the doctor told her to give fruit to her children, she stole oranges every night from an orchard, she knew it was wrong, she didn't tell her husband, she didn't tell her children. Poverty drove her to it, for the sake of her children, it was like between life & death. Had she begged honestly for some fruit, the landlord would not have ever given her fruit in charity. So she stole just enough for her children. She did not want to profit from it, she just wanted to prolong life, she was not greedy, but she was desperate.

Roopa stole for her child's life, it was a necessity, perhaps society drives certain people into committing petty crimes out of basic human needs like hunger, which is why it is so important to establish charity.

But what about those weak people who steal just for greater comfort in life? It is not like they would die or suffer if deprived of the opportunity, it is just that they are overtaken by the greed to climb up one step higher, they are tired of struggling & want to take the easy way once, and get tempted into going along with the crowd that deceives the system. They delude themselves that they're doing it out of necessity, out of desperation, but they are just plain greedy. They abuse their authority for personal benefit. It is shocking, official business trips planned just so that they can go meet relatives/family in a distant land, meeting venues chosen just so that they can have fun at a happening place, the list is endless. Sometimes it's outright illegal, sometimes there's no law covering it so it's legal, but we know it is immoral.

In this world, there are many mini worlds. I have seen lots of great achievers who made it big by building life one step at a time, for whom morality was not a burden. I have also seen people who try to twist law here & there in small ways for their benefit. There are other cruel (rather thick skinned) people who trample on others on their way up. After all, the world is made up of all sorts of people. We should make the right choices, what kind of people do we want to associate with, what kind of person do we want to grow into, most of life is based on choice. One wrong step, then it is a spiral downwards. Some good steps, and it becomes easier in the long term. Of course there is the will of God too.

But all this is possible when there is a codified law, what about living life in a lawless underdeveloped country where corruption is rampant? Where rules are made so that the power-hungry can gorge more?

My approach in life is, never do immoral things even if they are not yet checked under the legal framework. And never do immoral things  just because a power-hungry minister rules it as okay.