Our Heritage of Trial and Error--and Truth

We must learn from the mistakes of others, because we’ll never live long enough to make all the mistakes ourselves.” Part of our heritage is the experience that others have had. Part of our heritage is the progress and errors of the past. Part of our heritage is the counsel of parents, and other experienced people – that permits us to begin where others have left off: The comforts and conveniences we have, medicine and machines, science and sanitation, are ll part of the heritage we have. And in these tangible and material things we don’t insist on going back to the beginning, We don’t live in crude shelters or make fires from striking flint. In these materials things we accept what others have learned, what others have made, and from there we gratefully begin. Then why shouldn’t we do the same in matters of morals and ethics?

Why should we needlessly pay a personal price for what has already been proved? Basically, there aren’t any new evils. Basically, there are still the same causes and consequences. Basically the same kind of sins still lead to the same king of sorrows. In tools and techniques, we begin where others have brought us; we use what others have taught us. And if young people would only remember that the advice of sincere parents – and the experience of the past – is already proved and paid for, they could save themselves many mistakes. We must learn from others. We won’t live long enough to make all the mistakes that other men have made. In the first place, each of us can only make one fatal mistake. We have to live by the experience of the past. We have to live in part on the faith of our fathers – for we don’t live long enough to prove all things, and we can’t go back to the beginning. And so again to you who are young: use what has been proved in the past. That is what parents are endeavoring to offer. That is what all the rules of peace and progress and improvement are for, and all the trial and error – and truth. And the wise will profit by the heritage they have.