The Van Buren press., 1893-08-19
JUDGMENT AND DECISION.


JUDGMENT AND DECISION.
Energy to BE Effective Must He Joined
to These.
Energy, to be effective, must be
Joined with judgment and decision,
without which man is qualified only
to be clerk or foreman for others,
who can do the scheming and planning
for which he lacks capacity. See to it
that your judgment il cultivated by
study OF thoughtful books, observation
and meditation. DO not make the mis-
take which SO many youths do, of cul-
tivating the lower faculties Of the
mind-fancy, wit, etc.-instead Of the
higher; the auxiliary ones instead Of
the principal. There is an applause
that follows the display Of the former
which is flattering to youthful vanity;
but let the brilliant, snowy youth be
pitted In the arena against an antago-
mist who has aimed chiefly ut strength
of mind, and sought to discipline his
faculties Of reasoning and judgment,
and you will soon see the sparkling dia-
mond reduced to carbon and pounded
to dust.
Next in Importance to . sound judg-
ment is decision. He who combines
the soundest Judgment with the great
est rapidity of decision and energy in
executing his plans will push his way
the fastest and climb the highest up
the sleeps OF success. Thousands OF
men who are possessed Of every other
qualification for getting on in the
world fail from lack Of decision. Bacon
Justly complains Of them that through
fastidiousness, timidity or mental slow
ness they object too much, consult too
long. adventure too little, repent too
soon, and seldom drirs business home. The
world was not made for slow, squeam-
ish, timid people, but for those who act
instantaneously and with power. Bet
ter decide wrong occasionally than be
forever hesitating and vacillating, with
the weakness, misery and disaster that
follow from chronic habit OF doubt.
ITO do anything. worth doing In the
world" says Sidney Smith, 1--WE must
not stand shivering on the brink, and
thinking OF the cold and the danger,
but lump In and scramble through
as we'll as we can. 1t will not do TO
be perpetually calculating risks and
adjusting nice chances. 1t did all very
we'll before the food; but at present
man waits and doubts and hesitates,
and consults his brother and his
uncle and his first cousins and
his particular friends, till one day
he finds that he is sixty-five years OF
AGE: that he has lost so much time In
consulting friends that he has no time
left to follow their advice"
The victories and defeats in life often
turu on minutes. Crises are ever and
anon occurring, the seizing OF which Is
triumph, the neglect Of which is ruin.
Too many young men who might otnef'
wise succeed in life are like the NJ
ance that fought the French rey9l4-
ton. which, rs Chamfort said, was a.
ways behind day, by ap army by an
idea. In critical moments they yacil-
late like Louis XVI, whose pitiful lack
Of decision and nerve prevented him.
In his escape from Paris TO the
t,ontier OF France, from passing
round the barrier in the highway
at Varennes. Instead Of acting prompt
iv he hesitated, and discussed the fine
quality of the Burgundy offered him at
ths village inn, and that hesitation was
his rain. In twenty or thirty minutes
he might ha.e been safe among nia
friends, but through bis delay IN sne
iittle parlor outside events shaped
themselves in the fatal grooves Of tia!
long PROCESSION Of shame and suffering
-h;ch ended with the guillotine.
HOW many generals have lost the op'
uortunity Of victory through their OK,
cs.sive anxiety to be perfectly prepared
sor hsttlsg How different Napoleon'i
conduct In his Egyptian expedition
! Hardly had hs dissm barked at AisxaA
80, when he advanced against tha'
dI,s orr. d assaulted 1t with mere haaa
cry - o. ~, troops, without waiting lo'
inl OF .,,,arv w. ut is principle OF war,
hAS 18th. hs that Wien one can use 'as :
.s,'nasrbolt, it shouts oe pfer;r0I Sm;rs ths ~
s"nnor" Who does not san .n.t hard
;n,repidi.y Sanr and decision OF - saIs Mobile @
s1hter, XdmirSl Farragu.' ~ .orrsSoo, M
., Uay, had lust sunk the Tecumseh, ~ !"
snds s,.dsrsd I the fleet to press On ~ 0nv On
~ Ss shouted. -Four bells, lp"u ssps, ~ snd
.on ne 90 ahead! Jouet., full spos1' %I sno sos
the the dread line was passed. .,,,ods
nadoes ,nd snapped, but did not exp.oas p o. sd
pedod pea : disastrous defeat was conver.su
s,ato S.u a brilliant victory. promp.nes' :.
inio Sscis;on allied to invincible courage Z,
o, pa energy WAS leading qual'y aa ~, q
ana .,n,nent man OF business ana % pm.
sne M .hropi,t, Sir Thomas foweIi ,;.;o, nuN
ian'n'%h i, When he advocated ths se9litlol 3a,a,
.o". .,.vsry In ths British MesI lang q
OF OF s.aeey aaceuutered bowling 'smpes. p St.. q
ne ,es;tion. All the artillery o. p.sysr, a'
pprssties oppos,ties aattsries and 'srssts e.. W. :.
d;reeted against him 70 'nua'h 1sa honse mae . .
ommous, po"' but in vain, "maae .'.;p. s1st aaas'
ssy ~ w"s ons Of his friends when sbs s'S's