The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-04
Lying to Yourself
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

The private diary of Leo Tolstoi was
recently published in Paris by his daugh-
ter, the Countess Alexandria Ivovna. 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
subtle Of sins. ~
II you talk with the inmates of the
penitentiary, with the crime-wrecked and
drug-soaked Of the slums, you will find
that every one of them is living like a
spider in web Of delusons he has woven
out Of his own substance.
The profigate has told himself that
the world owes him a living" until he
believes it.
The criminal lays his downfall at the
door of society.
The prostitute can glibly prove that
she is not to blame, she is the victim
of injustice.
Every down-and -outer labors to justify
himself and trace his misfortune to the
evil Of others.
AS 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 ediice 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 bribed me, but
the fatal final step was never taken ex-
cept by the consent of my own will.
You may offer me a habit-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 l do not have TO do, and
do only because I will to DO it, and that
is to swallow the stuff.
And that is true Of every injurious
deed If do an act Of fraud, or unclean-
ness, or cruelty, there is just one person
guilty-it is myself
The world is full Of blubberng winners,
whimperers and weakings Overfull.
That we do wrong is not so disgusting
We are all human. and perhaps 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 selfshness,
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 IT. You
could have died
You may have TO suffer- to be humilia-
ted, TO endure tragedy, TO die; nor you,
nor any human being, ever had to do
wrong.
SO don't lie to yourself.
Honesty toward yourself is the key
that will open TO you the New Life.
THE DI EUDEn