The most important survival lesson in life is learning to react appropriately. It's always better to be pissed off, than to be pissed on . It is when honor bids you do things you don't want to, or not do things that you do, that it is difficult, and that living up to its demands is worthy of regard. Anyone can be honorable when the honorable thing is what they want to do anyway. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Pure idealism is fine, in an ideal world.
Sadly, we don't live in one. If you want to ever actually achieve your goals, pure idealism has to be alloyed with realism, tempered with pragmatism, and carefully honed on the stone of patience and persistence. However, they frequently seem to forget that their oath means ALL of the Constitution - not just the parts of it that they like. If your government helps you to do the things you want to do, keep it. If it does things for you, keep a close and wary eye on it.