A Little Latitude…

At what age is character so set that a person can be sure of himself. There is an ancient saying, variously said by many sages, to this intent: “Account no man happy till he die,” said Euripides. “John none blessed before his death,” is recorded in Ecclesiasticus. “Measure not the work until the day’s out…” said Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Sophocles summed it up by saying: “therefore wait to see life’s ending ere thou count one mortal blest; Wait till, free from pain and sorrow, he has gained his final rest.”

In the thought-provoking play, Time Limit, the authors have one of the chief characters say: “Your son was a hero, General. Yes sir, I give you my word. Hundreds of days he was a hero. On only one day did he break. Don’t all those other days count for anything?” Yes, it should surely seem to that a kind and just judge would take the whole record into account, and the days of courage and consistency would surely count. But it is true also that a penalty is paid when there is any departure from principle. We take unnecessary risks when we set out to sample the seamy and sordid side. There are none so old or none so young but what they pay a penalty for departing from sound principles. There are none so old or so young that they may safely relax their standards. As a matter of physical fact, no one ever really knows when he has leaned too far, until he has fallen. When he finds out how far he can go, he has gone too far. There is the principle of repentance. But surely also, it is a fool’s kind of foolishness to tempt temptation, for no one ever really knows when his character is solidly and safely set, when he can safely get a little out of line, when he can safely take a little latitude. Peace and self-respect and a quiet conscience come to him who has conquered himself, who stays within his own strength and standards, and doesn’t foolishly tempt temptation.