The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-28
WHAT OTHERS THINK

do not really matter at all. II
sounds like n contradiction; 10 is
simply a statement OF another side
OF truth. and more important side.
The opinion Of others is always
Of secondary consequence: we have
now come 90 grips with primary is
sues. What really matters is that
we should do the right thing. what
ever be the opinion that others may
form OF our conduct. Our first ne
cessity Is % be true. honest, just.
kind, unselflsh; and II by so being
we can win good opinions, IL is well
for us: II we cannot, still II Is well.
For our first and supreme concern
is with our presery action. We
must take trouble 10 be right. not
necessarily 10 seem right. Charac-
ter is more important 10 us than
what others may think Of us.
Other persons very seldom know
us well enough for their opinions TO
he az weight. They may easily es-
innate us far more highly than we
deserve: quite. as easily they may
estimate us too low. Usually, peo-
Pile do the one thing or the other.
n We are honest with ourselves.
We can form a clear conception OF
the value Of others opinion Of us.
Every child knows that he is often
praised when he least deserves
praise and blamed when he least
deserves blame. That which is true
OF our childhood is true all the way
through life: the awards Of public
opinion are often ludicrously unfit.
II We make others opinion our god.
we are placing our necks under the
yoke Of blind tyranny.
When we say that the opinion OF
others matters a great deal we must
add that the opinion is nevertheless
~ secondary import. When we say
that the opinion Of others does not
matter al all we should add that the
opinion Dies not matter as weighed
against the primary importance Of
doing right; but IL is still worth
while IL by fair and honest means
we can induce others 90 think well
OF us. We cannot afford 10 despise
the opinion OF any person, however
humble; but we must afford 10 be
independent Of IL, to base our action
on another foundation, 10 rule our
life by other standards.
We must not be perpetually wor-
rying as 10 what others will think
or say: what they will think or say
must never be our first concern. II
IL is our duty 10 be prudent and
saving. we must not mind though
others call US mean: il We cannot
dare 10 make bold enterprises. TO
risk big stakes, 10 venture huge
deals. we must not mind though
others call us timid or cowardly.
n our duty toward others leads us
TO a course OF action that seems
we must not shrink.
The thing we know 10 be right
has 10 be done; IL we neglect doing
il we incur a far graver penalty
than hard words from others. We
incur the penalty Of stultifying and
our conscience. A man
may easily starve or poison his own
soul out Of regard for the opinion OF
other people. The noble character
is not that which is contemptuous
Of others, but that whose first con-
Germ is with right l. that which
will sacrifice good opinion rather
than sacrifice truth or duty.
Let us try so 10 live that others may
rightly think well Of us, knowing
US 10 be good and true. Let us try
that all who come in contact with
US may go away feeling better for
The contact. There is something
that speaks almost more directly and
than positive action, and
that is the atmosphere OF character.
We carry an aroma OF character
with us; IL breatlles from us whether
We wish or no. This is one Of the
most subtle forms Of influence.
But this atmosphere comes en-
ircly from what we are: il has
nothing 10 do with what we seem.
Many may not be sensitive TO il,
but those whose regard is best
worth having will recognize il and
respond. II the majority misunder-
stand us and misinterpret us, we
nay regret il; but we must take a
iiiferent estimate in Judging wheth-
n we are doing well. We have not
o do with outcomes or consequence
IS at all - these are beyond our
ordering; we have 10 do with what
We believe 10 be right or wrong.