Choosing Along the Whole Length of Life

Often there comes the question as to why we make mistakes. We are not here referring to the constructive kind of trial and error which is often so essential a part of the learning process, but rather to what might be called character mistakes − mistakes of principle, mistakes of appetite, of offenses against others and against ourselves; choosing to do what we know we shouldn’t do − in effect, the more deliberate kind of failure. The question is too big, too complex here and now to analyze or answer, except to say that there is always an “opposition in all things,” and a choice between right and wrong, truth and error, between self-control and indulgence. Evil is always active. Temptation is always present. And we are always faced with choosing along the whole length of life, and are never safe in relaxing our alert, for there are always opposing forces pulling in different directions. And the way we go somewhat suggests our quality of character, our sense of values, our self-control, our intelligence, our sincere intent. Sometimes when people make mistakes they offer the explanation that they thought they should sample the unsavory side, so that they would know about such things for themselves. But this is unsound, because a priceless part of our heritage is to benefit by the mistakes that other men have made, by the principles that have already been proved. And we are not wise in repeating the mistakes that other men have made. Whatever the answers, whatever other elements there are, this fact seems sure: that we are all, in a measure, responsible for our acts and appetites, overcoming evil, come only with a sincere desire to do so, only with a willingness, only with wanting to. “Over the times thou hast no power. . . .” said Carlyle. “Solely over one man . . . thou has quite absolute . . . power.−Him redeem and make honest.”¹