We must not look for truth from men and women whose souls are out
of sympathy with truth. The trouble with us all as human beings is
that none of our natural virtues are wholly sound and perfect. There
is at least a little untruth in all our truth, a little jealousy
even in our best praise, a little pride even in our piety, a little
superciliousness in our forbearance. Jesus alone could properly claim
to be a type for all human character.
In a bullet foundry the first anxiety does not concern the
bullets themselves. Of course it is absolutely necessary that
each one should be perfectly spherical in shape. The essential
antecedent condition is a perfect mold. If the bullet-mold is
deformed, every bullet will share its deformity. Therefore the
first need is to make the mold right, and then every bullet will
share its rectitude.
(2321)