Independence--and Principles

In using our free agency, some considerable degree of independence is absolutely essential. But it is possible for people to be so independent that they cannot or do not cooperate, so independent that they do not work well with others; so independent that they make their own standards, their own rules, their own laws. “The lawless,” said Shakespeare, “are they that make their wills their law.”

There are times, said Caleb Colton, “…when independence of principle consists in having no principle on which to depend” ⎯as when people pride themselves so much on their independence that it becomes more pride than reason, more pride than principle. “I have been more and more convinced,” said John Ruskin, “the more I think of it, that, in general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes….”

Independence, even stubbornness, is good up to a point, but so is cooperation, and so is conformity⎯not conformity for lack of conviction, but conformity because of conviction⎯conformity to sound and proved principles, conformity to law, conformity to standards of truth and decency.

Along with sincere and sensible independence there must always be respect for standards, principles and law. And we must never forget the distinction between independence and stubbornness, independence and self-willed lawlessness.

There is an independence that says “no” to an evil temptation. There is an independence that says “yes” to the doing of duty. There is an independence that carries its own problems and troubles to the best of its ability.

On the other hand there is an independence that refuses to seek counsel, accept advice, or benefit by the experience of others. There is an independence that seeks truth, that does not fear to face it. And there is an independence that clings to error because of appetites.

The exercise of free agency is a God-given right, but anyone who uses his independence to ignore principles or truth, or to live against the law is misusing his independence.

“These two things,” said William Wordsworth, “contradictory as they may seem, must go together, manly dependence and manly independence, manly reliance and manly self-reliance.”