The Question of Compensation
January 1, 1970
Since Emerson wrote his essay on compensation, it has been difficult to say anyting new
on the subject. “The world looks like… a mathematical equation,” he said, “which, turn it how
you will, balance itself.”… “Things refuse to be mismanaged long.”… “There is always come
leveling circumstance.”… “You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.”… “If you tax too
high, the revenue will yield nothing.”… “In labor as in life there can be no cheating. The thief
steals from himself. The swindler swindles himself.”… “Men suffer all their life long, under the
foolish superstition that they can be cheated. But it is… impossible for a man to be cheated by
anyone but himself.” So much for Emerson and his essay. But this one thought further we
should like to leave: There are some in the world who are willing, some less willing, some
unwilling – to work, to serve, to give of themselves. And one of the lessons we earnestly need
to learn is that life does not give its best satisfaction to those who deliberately withhold their
helpfulness. It is true that a willing person sometimes seems to be imposed upon, but for every
useful part he performs, he is somehow rewarded. Aside from all else, he feels good inside
himself; while a niggardly, unwilling nature, which gives only grudgingly, is grudgingly
rewarded. No doubt there will be some cynicism concerning this subject. And it would be
difficult to prove to someone who is cynical just how, precisely, a person would be paid for
every service, for every effort, for every good deed done. We cannot always tell the cynical
precisely how nature will reward or how the Lord God will return good for good; but as surely
as we live, he who withholds himself from service, he who won’t do one stroke more than what
he feels is his so-called fair share, is going to miss more than he can calculate. As surely as we
live, he who shirks will shrivel inside himself, and he who hides his light loses light. “Every virtue
is rewarded, every wrong redressed, in silence and certainty.”