How Do We Know

13

THE STEPS TO GREATNESS

The greatest man is he who chooses the right with invincible resolution; who resists the sorest temptations from within and without; who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully; who is calmest in storms and most fearless under menace and frowns; and whose reliance on truth, on virtue, and on God, is most unfaltering.

—WILLIAM E. CHANNING

In the above quotation, this American clergyman (1780-1842), presents the human being in a rare state of perfection—seldom attained. I am aware of a few—past and present—possessing these rare qualities. Exemplars par excellence!

How can this exemplarity grace our lives? It serves as a high goal toward which we should strive day-in-and-day-out. Each improvement in this intellectual and spiritual direction is a step toward greatness. Such progress relates to those who persistently seek Truth—enlightenment—and excel their fellowmen in this quest. Briefly, it depends on the few whose wisdom becomes an attractive force. The Perfect Example? Jesus of Nazareth!

The German statesman, Otto von Bismarck (1815-98), wrote: “A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.”

Generosity does not impoverish; instead, it enriches the lives of those who practice it, as well as the recipients. “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Luke 4:38.

As to the enriching of one’s humanity, here is a good aphorism: “A man’s nature runs either to herbs or weeds, therefore, let him seasonably water the one and destroy the other.” Those whose “nature runs to herbs” are the superior persons who are growing from birth to old age. Watering? Exploring the wisdom of seers, those who possess thoughts superior to one’s own.

Weeds? Evils symbolized—stupidities, destructive nonsense, know-it-all-ness, destroyers of all that is good or true. The remedy? An ever-improving self provides deliverance from evil. Errors caught in time can and often do show us the way to understanding and high-grade explanations.

As to “moderation in success”—let getting ahead not go to our heads! “Success at first doth many times undo men at last.” Think of success as a blessing made possible by the countless achievements of others. No one is or ever was able to go it alone!

The greatest man is he who chooses the right with invincible resolution. A determination to succeed is half the battle, as Samuel Smiles tells us: “To think we are able is almost to be so; to determine upon attainment is frequently attainment itself; earnest resolution has often seemed to have about it almost a savor of omnipotence.”

These thoughts by Smiles reinforce Channing’s wisdom. Elbert Hubbard adds an interesting insight: “There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far; something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.”

The ability to recognize the ability of a carpenter, singer, salesman, comedian and the like is commonplace. But rare is the ability to recognize those few throughout history who have excelled others in an understanding and explanation of liberty.

The . . . man who resists the sorest temptation from within and without.

Temptations without imply desires within. Men ought not to say, “How powerfully the devil tempts,” but “How strongly I am tempted.”

—Henry Ward Beecher

As to temptations without, learn to say “No!” Thirty-six years ago, when the attractiveness of adhering strictly to conscience was more of a new idea to me, I was invited to spend an evening with a dozen of the country’s leading businessmen. Our purpose was to discuss the so-called Full Employment Act, then before the Congress. Most of the talk favored the tactic of opposing the measure by subterfuge, dealing under the table, so to speak—repulsive to me. When they finally asked for my view, I hesitated a moment. To tell them exactly what I thought would do me in, damage my career—or so I imagined. But, I told them! Never have I had a more rewarding experience. From that day forward those twelve were devoted friends, inviting me to counsel time after time. Why? Integrity!

As to temptations within: while it is not dangerous to be honest, this does not mean that one must necessarily divulge all of his innermost thoughts. Many doubtless deserve further incubation. But once a position is taken and expressed, let there be in it no deviation from conscience.

Imagine that a fair percentage of citizens of this nation were practicing what their highest conscience dictates as right. No man could ever be elevated to public office except as he exemplified integrity. Think what a change this would make in the national scene. Only statesmen; never a charlatan!

The . . . man who bears his heaviest burdens cheerfully. Wrote the Roman poet, Ovid, more than 2,000 years ago: “Burdens become light when cheerfully borne.” Could it be that the scholar, Channing, was enlightened by Ovid? Perhaps! As Goethe observed, “All truly wise ideas have been thought already thousands of times.” The truly wise individual is usually one who is aware of how little he knows, whereas the individual who thinks himself the wisest falls into the foolish category. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

The best way to cope with our burdens? Have fun as we bear those which are necessary, share those borne by our friends, and overcome the rest. Were more of us to enjoy making ever clearer explanations of the present coercive nonsense by our governments, we would be graced with freedom—and soon!

The man . . . who is calmest in storms and most fearless under menace and frowns. “Menace,” as here used, means “threats, denunciation, intimidation.” Anyone who resorts to these common tactics to get his way is ridiculous. Those who are loudest in their threats get what they deserve: nothing but disdain. We freedom devotees who threaten our opponents only strengthen them in their misdeeds, their societal faults. The tactic we should employ? Calmness! Think exclusively of our own improvement and leave faults to the falsifiers. Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free. “If we would guide by the light of reason, we must let our minds be bold.” Let us be fearless in the face of menace and frowns.

The . . . man whose reliance is on truth, on virtue, on God, is most unfaltering. Wrote the clergyman, Stopford A. Brooke (1832-1916): “If a thousand old beliefs were ruined in our march to truth we must still march on.”

Reflect on the history of mankind and the thousands of beliefs, once held to be true, that have become “old hat”—the flat earth theory, for example, accepted without question for generations. In spite of all dubious beliefs, we are still marching on to new truths.

As to virtue, a former Stanford University president, David Starr Jordan (1851-1931), gave to posterity this wisdom: “Wisdom is what to do next; Virtue is doing it.” May more and more be so graced!

There is but one pursuit in life which it is in the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres makes every difficulty an advancement, and every conquest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue. Sincerely to aspire after virtue is to gain her; and zealously to labor after her ways is to receive them.

—Caleb C. Colton

Leading a life of virtue, with a reliance on God, are the steps to greatness and freedom!