In The Pearl, Kino makes a decision which he believes to be morally correct, but which will result in suffering for himself and those around...

I think the biggest decision that Kino makes is to not
sell out and give the pearl away for a lot less money than it is actually worth. In
spite of the increasing number of threats that surround him and the way in which he
himself is changing because of the pearl, he determines to reject Juana's attempt to
return the pearl to the ocean and to take the pearl and his family to the city so that
he can try to gain a fair price for it. Note what he says to his wife after her attempt
to try and dispose of the pearl in secret:

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"No," he said. "I will fight this thing. I will
win over it. We will have our chance." His fist pounded the sleeping mat. "No one shall
take our good fortune from us," he said. His eyes softened then and he raised a gentle
hand to Juana's shoulder. "Believe me," he said. "I am a man." And his face grew
crafty.

What is interesting
about this quote is that Kino is morally within his rights to try and get a fair price
for the pearl, but clearly what he is unaware of is how the malign influence of the
pearl is changing him and making him "crafty" and evil, just as it is changing those
around them too, making them willing to attack and steal to gain the pearl. Of course,
Kino's decision will also lead to ultimate tragedy for the family, as the story
shows.