On Knowing the Answers October 6, 1946
THERE is an old and simple truth, so commonplace as to be frequently ignored, but so vital that it never should be. It is the truth that knowledge alone will not save us. There are unlimited...
The Burden of Making Decisions October 13, 1946
ONE of the most difficult things in life is making decisions and taking responsibility for them. Indeed, the mental and moral burden of making decisions usually weighs men down much more than...
Why Take a Chance? October 20, 1946
THERE is a spirit abroad, typified by the seemingly harmless phrase, “Why not take a chance?” This popular proposal has no doubt induced many people to gamble away many things, perhaps...
Talent Without Character October 27, 1946
There is an old phrase, of unidentified origin, which says “talent without character is more to be dreaded than esteemed.” Using character in its meaning of moral responsibility, we...
On Calling Evil by Its Right Name November 3, 1946
ALL THIS may have been long ago, and it may not have been just as it now appears to have been_but we seem to have remembered or to have read of a time when the demarcation between good and evil was...
Religion and Life November 10, 1946
MANY definitions have been given of religion. There is little to be gained by adding to them, but we should like to quote again from one of those most often quoted: “Pure religion and...
Devotees of Defamation November 17, 1946
Always among us, it seems, are some who find pleasure or profit in defaming the character of others. And those who are so inclined don’t always confine their activities to people they know....
On Taking Things for Granted November 24, 1946
There are times, perhaps, when all of us are moved by gratitude, and there are times when all of us may become careless about our blessings. A favor done the first time is almost always appreciated....
Teaching Is More Than Telling December 1, 1946
SOMETIMES we are puzzled by the apparent ineffectiveness of some of our teaching. Surely, we may think, we have told our youth often enough what to do and what not to do. But often we make the...
Encroachment by Precedent December 8, 1946
THERE is a principle of common law to the effect that a privilege, long continued, may come to be looked upon as a right. For example, if we permit a man to walk over our property once, we have...
Looking at Our Own Load December 15, 1946
When someone sets out to deceive someone else, he is more likely to be successful if he deceives with similarities rather than with obvious differences. If falsehood were not sometimes so subtly...
Peace Is a Personal Problem December 22, 1946
ALTHOUGH it may seem to be an over simplification to say so, peace is a personal problem. It is a personal problem, because keeping peace among families and friends and neighbors is a necessary...
A Legacy of Experience December 29, 1946
There sometimes seems to be a disposition to assume that the lessons which another generation has learned don’t apply to the present. And seemingly on this assumption, young people are often...
The Privilege of Repentance January 5, 1947
FREQUENTLY we hear people speak of making good resolutions, but not so frequently do we hear them speak of repenting. And yet, isn’t a sincere resolve to do better in the future the same as...
Curiosity January 12, 1947
A CHARACTERISTIC common to humankind is a compelling curiosity, for which we may well be grateful. Of course, like all other attributes, curiosity may become excessive or perverted. But a wholesome...
God and Unanswered Questions January 19, 1947
THERE are those who disavow belief in God, because the world in which He is omnipotent does not always seem to us to be managed as well as it might be, and because the children of whom He is the...
Opinions Without Responsibility January 26, 1947
No doubt there have been times when all of us have speculated as to what we would do with the world if we were running it. Not infrequently we hear people who are outspoken on the subject and who...
Some Hazards of Rationalization February 9, 1947
Truth can be very inconvenient at times. And so, we sometimes try to talk ourselves into what we wish were true, or out of what we wish weren’t true, by admitting all the evidence that would...
The Courage to Say "I Do Not Know!" February 16, 1947
Perhaps all of us have been embarrassed when we have been asked questions we could not answer. But we need not be, necessarily, because anyone can ask questions that no one can answer. And very...
A Man and His Price March 2, 1947
It is sometimes cynically said that every man has his price which is to say that there is no honor or honesty, no virtue or verity, no patriotism or principle that will not be violated or...