How to Get on in the World | Page 3

Every character is influenced by heredity, environment and education;
but these apart, if every man were not to a great extent the architect of
his own character, he would be a fatalist, an irresponsible creature of
circumstances, which, even the skeptic must confess he is not. So long
as a man has the power to change one habit, good or bad, for another,
so long he is responsible for his own character, and this responsibility
continues with life and reason.
A man may be a graduate of the greatest university, and even a great
genius, and yet be a most despicable character. Neither Peter Cooper,
George Peabody nor Andrew Carnegie had the advantage of a college
education, yet character made them the world's benefactors and more
honored than princes.
"You insist," wrote Perthes to a friend, "on respect for learned men. I
say, Amen! But at the same time, don't forget that largeness of mind,
depth of thought, appreciation of the lofty, experience of the world,
delicacy of manner, tact and energy in action, love of truth, honesty,
and amiability--that all these may be wanting in a man who may yet be
very learned."
When someone in Sir Walter Scott's hearing made a remark as to the
value of literary talents and accomplishments, as if they were above all
things to be esteemed and honored, he observed, "God help us! What a
poor world this would be if that were the true doctrine! I have read
books enough, and observed and conversed with enough of eminent
and splendidly-cultured minds, too, in my time; but I assure you, I have
heard higher sentiments from the lips of the poor uneducated men and
women, when exerting the spirit of severe, yet gentle heroism under
difficulties and afflictions, or speaking their simple thoughts as to

circumstances in the lot of friends and neighbors, than I ever yet met
with out of the Bible."
In the affairs of life or of business, it is not intellect that tells so much
as character--not brains so much as heart--not genius so much as
self-control, patience, and discipline, regulated by judgment. Hence
there is no better provision for the uses of either private or public life,
than a fair share of ordinary good sense guided by rectitude. Good
sense, disciplined by experience and inspired by goodness, issued in
practical wisdom. Indeed, goodness in a measure implies wisdom--the
highest wisdom--the union of the worldly with the spiritual. "The
correspondences of wisdom and goodness," says Sir Henry Taylor, "are
manifold; and that they will accompany each other is to be inferred, not
only because men's wisdom makes them good, but because their
goodness makes them wise."
The best sort of character, however, can not be formed without effort.
There needs the exercise of constant self-watchfulness, self-discipline,
and self-control. There may be much faltering, stumbling, and
temporary defeat; difficulties and temptations manifold to be battled
with and overcome; but if the spirit be strong and the heart be upright,
no one need despair of ultimate success. The very effort to advance--to
arrive at a higher standard of character than we have reached--is
inspiring and invigorating; and even though we may fall short of it, we
can not fail to be improved by every honest effort made in an upward
direction.
"Instead of saying that man is the creature of circumstance, it would be
nearer the mark to say that man is the architect of circumstance. It is
character which builds an existence out of circumstance. Our strength is
measured by our plastic power. From the same materials one man
builds palaces, another hovels; one warehouses, another villas. Bricks
and mortar are mortar and bricks, until the architect can make them
something else. Thus it is that in the same family, in the same
circumstances, one man rears a stately edifice, while his brother,
vacillating and incompetent, lives forever amid ruins; the block of
granite which was an obstacle on the pathway of the weak, becomes a

stepping-stone on the pathway of the strong."
When the elements of character are brought into action by determinate
will, and influenced by high purpose, man enters upon and
courageously perseveres in the path of duty, at whatever cost of
worldly interest, he may be said to approach the summit of his being.
He then exhibits character in its most intrepid form, and embodies the
highest idea of manliness. The acts of such a man become repeated in
the life and action of others. His very words live and become actions.
Thus every word of Luther's rang through Germany like a trumpet. As
Richter said of him, "His words were half-battles." And thus Luther's
life became transfused into the life of his country, and still lives in the
character of modern Germany.
Speaking of the courageous character