Part 58 (1/2)
Character as capital is verymen They see-headedness, cunning, influence, a pull, than upon downright honesty and integrity of character Yet why do scores of concerns pay enormous sums for the use of the name of a man who, perhaps, has been dead for half a century or more? It is because there is power in that name; because there is character in it; because it stands for so Think of what the nareat names which stand in the commercial world as solid and immovable as the rock of Gibraltar, are worth!
Does it not see men who know these facts should try to build up a business on a foundation of cunning, sche on the solid rock of character, reliability, and manhood? Is it not remarkable that so many men should work so hard to establish a business on an unreliable, fli upon the solid , reliability?
A na until it is questioned; but when suspicion clings to it, it is worth nothing There is nothing in this world that will take the place of character There is no policy in the world, to say nothing of the right or wrong of it, that co
In spite of, or because of, all the crookedness and dishonesty that is being uncovered, of all the scoundrels that are being unest word in the business world to-day There never was a tier There never was a time when character meant so much in business; when it stood for so much everywhere as it does to-day
There was a tiest in taking advantage of others got the biggest salary; but to-day theup as never before
Nathan Straus, when asked the secret of the great success of his firm, said it was their treatain
He said they could not afford to make enee of custoive them reason to think that they had been unfairly dealt with,--that, in the long run, the ave the squarest deal to the et ahead fastest
There are reat fortunes, but who do not carry weight a their fellow men because they have dealt all their lives with inferiority They have lived with shoddy and shaestion has been held in their minds until their whole standards of life have been lowered; their ideals have shrunken; their characters have partaken of the quality of their business
Contrast these men with the men who stood for half a century or more at the head of solid houses, substantial institutions; ; who have surrounded themselves not only with ability but with men and women of character
We instinctively believe in character We ad; who are centered in truth and honesty It is not necessary that they agree with us We adth, the honesty of their opinions, the inflexibility of their principles
The late Carl Schurz was a strong ed his political views very often; but even his worst eneo back on, friends or no friends, party or no party--and that was his devotion to principle as he saw it
There was no parleying with his convictions He could stand alone, if necessary, with all the world against hies in parties and politics, could not destroy the universal adh he escaped from a German prison and fled his country, where he had been arrested on account of his revolutionary principles when but a mere youth, Emperor William the First had such a profound respect for his honesty of purpose and his strength of character that he invited hiave hireat tribute
Who can esti and uplifting our national ideas and standards through the thousands of students who go out from Harvard University? The tremendous force and nobility of character of Phillips Brooks raised everyone who careat earnestness in trying to lead people up to his lofty ideals swept everything before it One could not help feeling while listening to hihty triurand expression of superb manhood Such men as these increase our faith in the race; in the possibilities of the grandeur of the co man We are prouder of our country because of such standards
It is the ideal that deterht, what an inspiration, are those men who sacrifice the dollar to the ideal!
The principles by which the probleht and justice, honesty and integrity; and just in proportion as ahis probleet ets money, but does he succeed? Is it any honester to steal byarm?
It is very much more dishonest, because the victim is deceived and then robbed--a double crime
We often receive letters which read like this:
”I aht about it, somehow
I can not still the voice within ”
”Leave it, leave it,” ays say to the writers of these letters
”Do not stay in a questionable occupation, no ht will land you on the rocks if you follow it
It is de to the character, to do a thing which one's conscience forbids”
Tell the es that you can not work for him unless you can put the trade-rity, upon everything you do Tell hi success, surely the lowest can not You can not afford to sell the best thing in you, your honor, yourinstitution You should regard even the suggestion that you ht sell out for a consideration as an insult
Resolve that you will not be paid for being so less than a man; that you will not lease your ability, your education, your inventiveness, your self-respect, for salary, to do aadvertiseoods, or in any other capacity
Resolve that, whatever your vocation, you are going to stand for so to be _merely_ a lawyer, a physician, a ressoing to be a _man_ first, last, and all the time