Apple just did something remarkable. They walked away.

When faced with the UK government's demand to create a backdoor into their highest-level security system, they didn't negotiate, didn't compromise, didn't try to find a middle ground.

They simply said no.

In a world where tech giants often bow to governmental pressure, this stands out. It's a masterclass in knowing what you stand for and being willing to pay the price for those convictions.

The cost? British customers will lose access to Advanced Data Protection. The principle? That security isn't something you can make "just a little bit weaker." It's either secure or it isn't.

Here's the thing about dragons: once you feed them, they get hungrier. Give one government a backdoor, and suddenly every government wants one. Create one weakness in your security, and bad actors will find it faster than you can say "cybercrime."

Apple chose to disappoint some people to avoid disappointing everyone. They chose to protect their core promise - security for all - even if it meant walking away from a significant market feature.

In a world of infinite compromise, sometimes the most powerful move is knowing when to say no.

The question for the rest of us: What dragons are we feeding? What compromises are we making that slowly erode our core promises?

Sometimes, the bravest thing isn't fighting the dragon. It's walking away from the fight altogether.