The Good, the Bad, and the Do-Nothings

Today is the birthday of John Clare (1793-1864), the English writer who (besides "If life had a second edition, how I would correct the proofs") wrote that

The best way to avoid a bad action is by doing a good one, for there is no difficulty in the world like that of trying to do nothing.

Just thinking to myself: doesn't "doing nothing" come close to the (non-)agenda that the anti-Washington pacifists have been claiming would (somehow) sort the world out right?

Also: exactly what good actions can France's foreign affairs ministry claim over the past few years (decades?); except of course the obviously genial one of opposing Uncle Sam at every step?

(Just asking…)