Most of us are at times conscious of hearing from the lips of
another, or reading from the printed page, thoughts that have existed
previously in our own minds. They may have been vague and unarranged,
but still they were our own, and we recognize them as old friends,
though dressed in a more fitting and expressive costume than we ever
gave them. Sometimes an invention or a discovery dawns upon the world
to bless and improve it, and while all are engaged in extolling it
some persons feel that they have had its germs floating in their
minds, though from the lack of favorable conditions, or some other
cause, they never took root or became vital. An act of heroism is
performed, and a bystander is conscious that he has that within him by
which he could have taken the same step, although he did not. Some one
steps forward and practically opposes a social custom that is admitted
to be evil, yet maintained, and by his influence lays the ax to
its root and commences its destruction; while many, commending his
courage, wonder why they had not taken the same course long ago.
In numberless instances we are conscious of having had the same
perceptions, the same ideas, the same powers, and the same desires
to put them into practice that are shown by the one who has so
successfully expressed them; yet they have, for some reason, lain
dormant and inoperative within us.
When we consider the waste of human power that this involves, we may
well search for its cause. Doubtless it sometimes results from the
absorption (more or less needful) of each one is his individual
pursuit. No one can give voice to all he thinks, or accomplish all
that he sees to be desirable, while striving, as he should, to gain
excellence in his own chosen work. Conscious of his own limitations,
he will rejoice to see many of his vague ideas, hopes, and aspirations
reached and carried out by others. But the same consciousness that
reconciles him to this also reveals much that he _might_ have said or
done without violating any other obligation, but which he has allowed
to slip from his hands to those of another, perhaps through lack of
energy, or indolence, or procrastination. The cause, however, most
operative in this direction is a strange disloyalty to our own
convictions. We look to others, especially to what we call great men,
for thoughts, suggestions, and opinions, and gladly adopt them
on their authority. But our own thoughts we ignore or treat with
indifference. We admire and honor originality in others, but we value
it not in ourselves. On the contrary, we are satisfied to make poor
imitations of those we revere, missing the only resemblance that is
worth anything, that of a simple and sincere independent life.
We would not undervalue modesty or recommend self-sufficiency. We
should always be learners, gladly welcoming every help, and respecting
every personality. But we should also respect our own, and bear in
mind, that "though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of
nourishing corn can come to us but through our toil bestowed on that
plot of ground which is given to us to till." To undervalue our own
thought because it is ours, to depreciate our own powers or faculties
because some one else's are more vigorous, to shrink from doing what
we can because we think we can do so little, is to hinder our own
development and the progress of the world. For it is only by exercise
that any faculty is strengthened, and only by each one putting his
shoulder to the wheel that the world moves and humanity advances.
There is nothing more insidious than the spirit of conformity, and
nothing more quickly paralyzes the best parts of a man. A gleam of
truth illuminates his mind, and forthwith he proceeds to compare it
with the prevailing tone of his community or his set. If it agree not
with that, he distrusts and perhaps disowns it; it is left to perish,
and he to that extent perishes with it. By and by, when some one more
independent, more truth-loving, more courageous than himself arises
to proclaim and urge the same thing that he was half ashamed to
acknowledge, he will regret his inglorious fear of being in the
minority. We are accustomed to think that greatness always denotes
exceptional powers, yet most of the world's great men have rather been
distinguished by an invincible determination to work out the best
that was within them. They have acted, spoken, or thought according to
their own natures and judgment, without any wavering hesitation as to
the probable verdict of the world. They were loyal to the truth that
was in them, and had faith in its ultimate triumph; they had a mission
to fulfill, and it did not occur to them to pause or to falter. How
many more great men should we have were this spirit universal, and how
much greater would each one of us be if, in a simple straightforward
manner, we frankly said and did the best that we knew, without fear or
favor? Soon would be found gifts that none had dreamed of, powers that
none had imagined, and heroism that was thought impossible. As Emerson
well says, "He who knows that power is inborn, that he is weak because
he has looked for good out of him and elsewhere, and so perceiving
throws himself unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights
himself, stands in the erect position, commands his limbs, works
miracles, just as a man who stands on his feet is stronger than a man
who stands on his head."--_Phil. Ledger._
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