The herald., 1897-01-03

his own superiority. but beneath 1t all
was foundation of sublime altruism.
Although giving evidence every day OF
his life that he loved his neighbor as he
loved himself, Christ gave not one,
from Plate to the humblest beggar,
even so much as a hint that he for one
moment believed he had an equal
among his following in wisdom. 1t
may be said, indeed, that but for his
transcendent egoism the truths he spoke
and the philosophy of life he taught
would have fallen upon aeaf ears.
Self-conoeit and the frequent use Of
the personal pronoun II" belong in the
realm of egoism, but they indicate su-
perflciality in knowledge and selfish
ness in all things. 1t may be said Of
such a one that he retains overmuch
of the spirit he manifested when he was
king of beasts in the jungle. or chief Of
tribe of savages. The greatest and
strongest helper of humanity to better
conditions OF existence Is the truest
egoist, and the greatest retarder of hui
man progres is the self-conceited, selfish
and narrow-minded ego. Every NOR
tai may say II am l." but only the true
egoist-he who knows duty and per-
forms it-nfay say II am the way"
The true egoist gathers wisdom from
experience, observation and medita-
ton, but the self-exalted man gropes in
the darkness of his own ignorance, al
though in his conceit he makes him
self believe he is a mighty light in the
world
Civilization looks to the true egoist
to carry it onward and upward. 1t is
the great and true egoist who confronts
a mighty purpose with feeling that he
is more than equal to 1t. 1t is the true
egoist who undertakes great enter
prises and carries them forward to
completion. The self-conceite0 halts
and stammers in great emergencies.
but the true egoist says II am I. am
T greater than that which obstructs."
That is true egoism which sends a man
to lead with confidence in a great en-
terprise, and all the better If his egoism
makes him believe that he can do the
work better than any other; but If he
comes to believe that the enterprise
would fail were he to die before its
completion, 1t were better that he die,
for the true egoism which made him
equal to the task at the outset has beer
overshadowed and weakened by self
conceit.
The worlds commerce has for its
foundation the belief Of some men In
their own greatness as managers Of the
affairs Of commerce, and when q man
fails TO secure desired results it is his
egoism which makes him try again in
confidence. The man who IL lacking in
true egoism never says, follow my
lead" The truest egoist IL he who
Knows himself best; knows his duty
to society ard to the world Of business,
and dare to do it. No man is capa BILE
of conducting any kind of an enterprise
unless he has enough egoism
to make him feel that it is
good for the enterprise that It
is in his keeping. No public speaker
could face an audience if his egoism did
not convince him that he could en-
tighten his hearers, and thus oblige them
to recognize his superior knowledge.
1t is very common thing to hear the
remark: 'IFe thinks himself very
smart" So much the better for him
if he knows he is smart, for he will en-
ploy such means and methods as will
keep himself smart" True egoism
means constant striving for something
higher and better, with full faith inone's
self to be superior to events The true
egoist believes he is equal to the de-
mands of today. and that he will
so unfold that he will master the prob
lens of tomorrow, but the self-conceited
knows that he knows it all, and that
there is nothing more for him to learn.
BE great and true egoist, but do not
make a fool of yourself.