The Detroit times., 1916-08-04
Lying to Yourself
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

recently published in Paris by his daugh-
ter. the Countess Alexandria lvovna One
of his views therein expressed is:
Lying to others is much less serious
than lying to yourself
To know this is the beginning of wis
dom.
Self-deception is the starting point of
moral decay.
Lying to others may be but harmless
amusement, but lying to yourself is sure
to mean inward deformity, the germ
laden fleck that spreads disease through
out your whole character
Yet it is the commOnest, easiest, most
subtitle Of sins. "a
If you talk with the inmates of the
drug-soaked II the slums, you will find
that every one of them is living like a
spider in a web of delusions he has woven
out of his own substance
The profigate has told himself that
'the world owes him living" until he
believes il.
The criminal lays his downfall at the
door of society.
The prostitu', san glibly prove that
she is not 20 lame she is the victim
Of injustice
Every down-and- labors to Justify
himself and trace his misfortune to the
evil of others.
As a matter Of fact. no person since
the world began was ever compelled to
do wrong.
No rotton stone or cracked beam was
ever laid in the edifce of any mans
character that he did not put there with
his own hands.
When | say that another made me do
an evil thing lie to myself.
Others may have caioled, tempted,
pushed, threatened. or bribcd me, but
the fatal final step was never taken ex-
cept by the consent Of my own will.
You may offer me a forming
drug, you may argue with me that it will
do me good you may urge me by ridicule,
and lead me on by example and my appe-
tite may second your efforts. | may
crave the glass, my nerves may clamor
for it and my imagination may lure me
TO it; But DO NOT HAVE TO DRINK.
Whatever excuses | may give, there is
one thing I do not have to do, and |
do only because | will to DO il, and that
is to swallow the stuff.
And that is true of every injurious
deed If ! do an act Of fraud. or unclean-
L.
guilty-it is myself.
The world is full Of blubbcring winners,
whimperers. and weaklings Overfull.
That We do wrong is not so disgusting.
We are all human. and perhap, all little
perverted. But having erred, let us be
downright and manly and honest about it.
Let US acknowledge our guilt, admit that
our lusts and greeds and sefshness,
which other people or circumstances may
have deftly played upon, are no valid ex-
cuse, and that the responsibility for our
evil rests absolutely upon ourselves. We
may be sinners; tut at least we can play
the man.
Don't lie to yourself Don't wallow in
self-pity Don't hunt extenuating cir
cumstances. Don't justify yourself by
comparing your own with others wrong
doing.
The wickedness Of others may bring
pain or loss TO you through no fault Of
yours. Each Of us must bear a portion
of the vicarious burden of the worlds
evil. But mark this: you never did
wrong for any other reason than that you
chose to do it.
Not to have committed the wrong deed
may have meant suffering to you or TO
those you love, may have meant humilia-
ton, or calamity or even death. BUT
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO 1T. You
could have died.
You may have to suffer, TO be humlia-
ted, TO endure tragedy, 10 die; nor you,
nor any human being, ever had to do
wrong.
SO don't lie 10 yourself
Honesty toward yourself Is the key
that will open 20 you the New Life.
THE PLAN BACK-FIRED.
Manager Hughie jennings. Of the Detroit II
ers tells this one on himself;
Il H.. Il