The true character acts rightly, whether in secret or in the sight of
others. That boy was well trained who, when asked why he did not pocket
some pears, for nobody was there to see, replied: “Yes, there was; I was
there to see myself; and I don’t intend ever to see myself do a
dishonest thing.” This is a simple but not inappropriate illustration of
principle, or conscience, dominating in the character, and exercising a
noble protectorate over it; not merely a passive influence, but an
active power regulating life.
Such a principle goes on molding the character hourly and daily, growing
with a force that operates every moment. Without this dominating
influence, character has no protection, but is constantly liable to fall
away before temptation; and every such temptation succumbed to, every
act of meanness or dishonesty, however slight, causes self-degradation.
It matters not whether the act be successful or not, discovered or
concealed; the culprit is no longer the same, but another person; and he
is pursued by a secret uneasiness, by self-reproach, or the workings of
what we call conscience, which is the inevitable doom of the guilty.