Popular Opinion   January 18, 1948

Some time ago someone coined a popular phrase: “Fifty million Frenchmen can’t be wrong.” This is one way of saying that what many people think, must be true. Superficially this...

Retreat   January 25, 1948

It has often happened that armies that have retreated have later come back to redeem the day. This pattern has its parallel in life. Often events don’t move “according to plan”at...

Some Questions on Personal Peace   February 1, 1948

Sometimes we see people who seem to be “getting away” with violations of law, violations of conscience, violations of every code of right conduct. Often they seem to enjoy the fruits of...

Publicity and Public Acceptance   February 15, 1948

Many men and many movements, many reputations and many public and private ventures are made and unmade by desirable or undesirable publicity. And since publicity and propaganda so intimately affect...

Washington--and Power and Privilege   February 22, 1948

George Washington is remembered for many things too numerous to mention, but among them is this: He was one of the men of history who declined to assume all the power that was proffered him. This is...

Expediency   February 29, 1948

To quote an expressive comment: “If you want to forget your other troubles, wear a pair of shoes that pinch.” It would seem that we often permit immediate annoyances to divert our...

Learning to Live With People   March 7, 1948

Admittedly with all of us, there are some people in the world whom we like better than others. And if we were always to follow our personal preferences, quite likely we would see more of those we...

Recovering Our Losses   March 14, 1948

All of us are constantly facing decisions, some of which we recognize as serious, and some of which seem relatively trivial, but which may have far reaching effects. We all do some wise things and...

Fear--and the Future   March 21, 1948

There is no denying the fact that fear sometimes takes hold of the hearts of men. We have all known the wilting of spirit and the feeling of utility when the prospect of the future is not just as we...

A Little Learning   April 4, 1948

It has often been observed that a little learning is a dangerous thing. But if a little learning is dangerous, surely a little ignorance is dangerous also. And then think how great must be the...

Rebellion Against This Mad Rush   April 11, 1948

Sometimes in the confusion we face, we find ourselves longing for quiet places. The intensity of living leaves us breathless from day to day and before we have emerged from one whirlwind, we find...

Doing What Others Do   April 18, 1948

“He who imitates an evil example generally goes beyond it; he who imitates a good example generally falls short of it.” These words from a sixteenth century philosopher suggest some...

Trial and Error   April 25, 1948

Tempting Temptation   May 2, 1948

Few of us actually know our own strength until we are faced with situations that test us to the last limit. We often underestimate our power to endure hardships. And we sometimes overestimate our...

Living Into Loneliness   May 9, 1948

It isn’t easy for those who are young to understand the loneliness that comes when life changes from a time of preparation and performance to a time of putting things away. In the eager and...

On Being a Pleasant Parent   May 16, 1948

It is often easy for people to be pleasant when they have no responsibility. This is a profound fact that young people often overlook. Friends and strangers and casual acquaintances may sometimes...

When Death Comes   May 30, 1948

In a letter to a friend, Thomas Jefferson once wrote: “There is a fulness of time when men should go.” This may be easy to understand when men have reached an age that is old and have...

Where Are You Going?   June 6, 1948

There is an important question that parents repeatedly ask young people: “Where are you going?” And even though a youngster may become impatient, it is important that parents ask it, and...

Pulling at the Pillars   June 13, 1948

There is a proverb from The Persians that reads: “When a man takes the road to destruction, the gods help him along.” Certainly tearing things down is easier than building them up....

A Broad Experience   June 20, 1948

Sometimes young people in a venturesome spirit seek to acquire an acquaintance with questionable practices, questionable places, and questionable people not with the idea of becoming involved in any...