Would you become more aware of your present actions and take good care of your character if you realized that it would affect your descendants further into the future?

I have been researching my Family tree for years and had hit a road block because of one descendant whom had a child out of wedlock and may have “used” a “dit name” ( nickname) for his
surname?
I have been trying to decipher our origins and because of this blockage hundreds of descendants are left in the dark.
It could have been easier IF she would have left a messege or something to give a clue as to his fathers name?
I often wonder about present times ‘IF” this still goes on without consideration for the consequences.