TRUTH AT ALL COSTS
AN American statesman, scientist and writer, Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), was known in his childhood to be a tactless fellow, yet in later years, he rose to the coveted post of ambassadorship, being appointed ambassador of America to France. His secret of success lay in his own words:
“I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody.” Man indeed loves nothing more than being praised and hates nothing more than being criticized.
A man of principle, however, upholds the truth, no matter what price has to be paid. In doing so, he can become an object of scorn or be treated as an outcast from society. On the other hand an unscrupulous person draws the crowds. The reason is quite simple. The former abides by the truth, at all costs. He does not mould himself to the wishes of the people, while, to the latter, it is expediency alone which counts. His aim is to earn the goodwill of the people, so he moulds himself into what they want him to be.
A man of principle, however, upholds the truth, no matter what price has to be paid.
To pass on to others something one does not believe in; to present falsehood as truth for the sake of consolidating one’s hold on people amounts to hypocrisy. One so inclined is very likely to achieve success in this world, but will be cast aside in the next world, where truth and untruth will become as clearly separated from each other as day is from night.
There is a great difference between a preacher, the ambassador of God, and an ambassador who is appointed by worldly governments. The former himself sets out to please God while the latter is appointed to please the people. The latter sets his eyes on expediency, on worldly gain, while the former sets his eyes on truth, however dear it might cost him.
A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things. Eleanor Roosevelt.