But I look at an incident in 1801 as a profound shaping event. Wilberforce was rumored to be among the candidates for a cabinet post serving Lord Addington. This man of God became preoccupied with that appointment. For days it drabbed at his conscious mind, forcing aside everything else. But Wilberforce credits one discipline in his life with escape from the clutches of ambition.
Ambition is stunted.
Years ago a national broadcasting company one day received this letter from an old shepherd in the hills of Idaho. I enjoy your program every week, and I want to ask a favor of you. It is rather lonely up here in the hills and I have not much to amuse myself except my radio. I used to pay my old violin, but now it is badly out of tune. At first the people at the station laughed at such a suggestion.