[Bancakes]

That’s survivorship bias. My ancestors wanted a good life for themselves, and many of them suffered different despots and sultans. They would go to war to defend their country, but not when the enemy is the ruler himself.

My ancestors were wrongly conditioned to think life has to be rough, that one must suffer through. A great deal of those who opposed rulers profiting from this, were eliminated.

[jojobas]

Mimicking what survivors did is a reasonable strategy. You don't know why but it works. Again, if you realise some of what they did didn't actually contribute to their survival it qualifies as a good reason not to do it.