Lesson Talks

Series with one eleven-year-old boy.

July 19 - 1937

There are different sorts of people, Peter. One kind uses only what is made already; they use what other people have made. Another kind makes things for others to use.

Among the people who use only what others have made, there are some who use those things well, and there are others who misuse them. If your father had let you use his big bandsaw when you were younger, you might have tried to saw a piece of iron with it. That would have been misusing the band saw.

(Boy) - He didn't give me a chance!

Those who make things for others, have many different sorts of things to do; they can make, not only hammers to hammer nails with - not only chairs to sit on - but also ideas can be made, and books written, and music composed, and pictures painted. Many different things can be made that are of use to others. And the very first thing for a man to make is himself!

Peter - What kind of a man are you going to be?

(Boy) - I'm going to be one who makes things that others can use.