The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-26
SPEAKING OF MISTAKES.
Don't Be Too Censorious, for They Are
Not Criminal

"The people who make mistakes lead
the world says The Idaho Statesman.
"Thc perfect people work for them, run
ming errands and counting columns oil
figures" Though this is playful sarcasm
at the expense of those who never get
into position where their mistakes
would come under general notice, and is
a clever gibe at those whose perfection Isl
n Pigment OF their own vain imagination,
| it bears vital truth
In all success there Is something more
| than dligent industry and conscientious
effort 4 considerable measure of cour-
! age is requisite and whenever courage,
and especially that of decisiveness, Is eX-
ercscd there is always the possibility of
making mistake This is particularly
| true of those at the head of big enter
prises and those holding prominent exec
utivc positions. With them the habit of
prompt decision is threefourths Of their
efficiency. There are many instances
permitting calm dellberation and con
tinuous thought, but still more in which
Ia judgment must be made without delay
IOf these men the successful are those
whose trained minds make it possible for
them to be right in the vast majority OF
( idNtN. bUl llltN dIt dAlNt an OhiCAo AhliN
conscious Of the probability Of a percent
age of error
There is such thing az being over
cautious and of carrying reflection to the
point of indecision. Some Of the world
greatest scholars have shown themselve
singularly ncpt when placed in position
of executive responsibility, and not be
{ cause they were wholly unfamiliar will
Il 4T Ia.
e tendency To spend too much time in con
sideration OF all the remote yet possibl
= consequences Of an action In acquiring
: their wealth of knowledge they hav
o sometimes lost their sense of proportion
their Judgment in the matter of relativ
h values
d Then there is also the truth that tn
x higher the position to which man rise
d by virtue of his talent or genius tn
e more conspicuous become his mistakes
e and the captious are very apt to maj
s. nifty them and lose sight of all thu
g stands to his credit.
II IL is not the making of mistakes whic
Sc is crime, but the unwilingness
L acknowledge them and the persistenc
in error long after it has been expose
- as such Wisdom may make mistake
bat it is folly that repeats them. 1t
an old saying and true that the on
r, perfect person is the perfect fool.
u In the world Of business and also
the spheres Of art, literature, and ev,
. science these truths are fully appare
III to all thoughtful people, but it is o
of the defects of political life that m
are Judged, at least by their opponen
almost solely on their mistakes. 1t
4, deemed as legitimate party warfare til
~ the opposition should magnify the
rors OF those they arc seeking to 4
y place, but in the long run this tenden
~ works in the interests of good COVE
us ment. Indeed if the price of liberty
N eternal vigilance, the same must be p;
w for the preservation Of democratic
ur stitutions Nothing is SO calculated
lie undermine "A democracy as the thee
Sc, that those in high places should
ire above criticism Carried to its logi
raj conclusion it would involve the j
IS petuation of the already chosen and
alp tablish a system aristocratic, and at
cratic in all but the name
lys The safety Of democracy lies in
ul- free criticism Of political mistakes
lily San Francisco Chronicle