I
a。MantheMachine。b。PersonalMerit[TheOldManandtheYoungManhadbeenconversing。TheOldManhadassertedthatthehumanbeingismerelyamachine，andnothingmore。TheYoungManobjected，andaskedhimtogointoparticularsandfurnishhisreasonsforhisposition。]
OldMan。Whatarethematerialsofwhichasteamengineismade？
YoungMan。Iron，steel，brass，whitemetal，andsoon。
O。M。Wherearethesefound？
Y。M。Intherocks。
O。M。Inapurestate？
Y。M。Noinores。
O。M。Arethemetalssuddenlydepositedintheores？
Y。M。Noitisthepatientworkofcountlessages。
O。M。Youcouldmaketheengineoutoftherocksthemselves？
Y。M。Yes，abrittleoneandnotvaluable。
O。M。Youwouldnotrequiremuch，ofsuchanengineasthat？
Y。M。Nosubstantiallynothing。
O。M。Tomakeafineandcapableengine，howwouldyouproceed？
Y。M。Drivetunnelsandshaftsintothehills;blastouttheironore;crushit，smeltit，reduceittopigiron;putsomeofitthroughtheBessemerprocessandmakesteelofit。Mineandtreatandcombineseveralmetalsofwhichbrassismade。
O。M。Then？
Y。M。Outoftheperfectedresult，buildthefineengine。
O。M。Youwouldrequiremuchofthisone？
Y。M。Oh，indeedyes。
O。M。Itcoulddrivelathes，drills，planers，punches，polishers，inawordallthecunningmachinesofagreatfactory？
Y。M。Itcould。
O。M。Whatcouldthestoneenginedo？
Y。M。Driveasewingmachine，possiblynothingmore，perhaps。
O。M。Menwouldadmiretheotherengineandrapturouslypraiseit？
Y。M。Yes。
O。M。Butnotthestoneone？
Y。M。No。
O。M。Themeritsofthemetalmachinewouldbefarabovethoseofthestoneone？
Y。M。Ofcourse。
O。M。Personalmerits？
Y。M。PERSONALmerits？Howdoyoumean？
O。M。Itwouldbepersonallyentitledtothecreditofitsownperformance？
Y。M。Theengine？Certainlynot。
O。M。Whynot？
Y。M。Becauseitsperformanceisnotpersonal。Itistheresultofthelawofconstruction。ItisnotaMERITthatitdoesthethingswhichitissettodoitcan’tHELPdoingthem。
O。M。Anditisnotapersonaldemeritinthestonemachinethatitdoessolittle？
Y。M。Certainlynot。Itdoesnomoreandnolessthanthelawofitsmakepermitsandcompelsittodo。ThereisnothingPERSONALaboutit;itcannotchoose。Inthisprocessof\"workinguptothematter\"isityourideatoworkuptothepropositionthatmanandamachineareaboutthesamething，andthatthereisnopersonalmeritintheperformanceofeither？
O。M。Yesbutdonotbeoffended;Iammeaningnooffense。
Whatmakesthegranddifferencebetweenthestoneengineandthesteelone？Shallwecallittraining，education？Shallwecallthestoneengineasavageandthesteeloneacivilizedman？Theoriginalrockcontainedthestuffofwhichthesteelonewasbuiltbutalongwithalotofsulphurandstoneandotherobstructinginbornheredities，broughtdownfromtheoldgeologicagesprejudices，letuscallthem。PrejudiceswhichnothingwithintherockitselfhadeitherPOWERtoremoveoranyDESIRE
toremove。Willyoutakenoteofthatphrase？
Y。M。Yes。Ihavewrittenitdown;\"Prejudiceswhichnothingwithintherockitselfhadeitherpowertoremoveoranydesiretoremove。\"Goon。
O。M。PrejudicesmustberemovedbyOUTSIDEINFLUENCESornotatall。Putthatdown。
Y。M。Verywell;\"Mustberemovedbyoutsideinfluencesornotatall。\"Goon。
O。M。Theiron’sprejudiceagainstriddingitselfofthecumberingrock。Tomakeitmoreexact，theiron’sabsoluteINDIFFERENCEastowhethertherockberemovedornot。ThencomestheOUTSIDEINFLUENCEandgrindstherocktopowderandsetstheorefree。TheIRONintheoreisstillcaptive。AnOUTSIDEINFLUENCEsmeltsitfreeofthecloggingore。Theironisemancipatediron，now，butindifferenttofurtherprogress。
AnOUTSIDEINFLUENCEbeguilesitintotheBessemerfurnaceandrefinesitintosteelofthefirstquality。Itiseducated，nowitstrainingiscomplete。Andithasreacheditslimit。BynopossibleprocesscanitbeeducatedintoGOLD。Willyousetthatdown？
Y。M。Yes。\"Everythinghasitslimitironorecannotbeeducatedintogold。\"
O。M。Therearegoldmen，andtinmen，andcoppermen，andleadenmean，andsteelmen，andsoonandeachhasthelimitationsofhisnature，hisheredities，histraining，andhisenvironment。Youcanbuildenginesoutofeachofthesemetals，andtheywillallperform，butyoumustnotrequiretheweakonestodoequalworkwiththestrongones。Ineachcase，togetthebestresults，youmustfreethemetalfromitsobstructingprejudicialonesbyeducationsmelting，refining，andsoforth。
Y。M。Youhavearrivedatman，now？
O。M。Yes。Manthemachinemantheimpersonalengine。
Whatsoeveramanis，isduetohisMAKE，andtotheINFLUENCES
broughttobearuponitbyhisheredities，hishabitat，hisassociations。Heismoved，directed，COMMANDED，byEXTERIOR
influencesSOLELY。HeORIGINATESnothing，notevenathought。
Y。M。Oh，come！WheredidIgetmyopinionthatthiswhichyouaretalkingisallfoolishness？
O。M。ItisaquitenaturalopinionindeedaninevitableopinionbutYOUdidnotcreatethematerialsoutofwhichitisformed。Theyareoddsandendsofthoughts，impressions，feelings，gatheredunconsciouslyfromathousandbooks，athousandconversations，andfromstreamsofthoughtandfeelingwhichhavefloweddownintoyourheartandbrainoutoftheheartsandbrainsofcenturiesofancestors。PERSONALLYyoudidnotcreateeventhesmallestmicroscopicfragmentofthematerialsoutofwhichyouropinionismade;andpersonallyyoucannotclaimeventheslendermeritofPUTTINGTHEBORROWED
MATERIALSTOGETHER。ThatwasdoneAUTOMATICALLYbyyourmentalmachinery，instrictaccordancewiththelawofthatmachinery’sconstruction。Andyounotonlydidnotmakethatmachineryyourself，butyouhaveNOTEVENANYCOMMANDOVERIT。
Y。M。Thisistoomuch。YouthinkIcouldhaveformednoopinionbutthatone？
O。M。Spontaneously？No。AndYOUDIDNOTFORMTHATONE;
yourmachinerydiditforyouautomaticallyandinstantly，withoutreflectionortheneedofit。
Y。M。SupposeIhadreflected？Howthen？
O。M。Supposeyoutry？
Y。M。（AFTERAQUARTEROFANHOUR。）Ihavereflected。
O。M。Youmeanyouhavetriedtochangeyouropinionasanexperiment？
Y。M。Yes。
O。M。Withsuccess？
Y。M。No。Itremainsthesame;itisimpossibletochangeit。
O。M。Iamsorry，butyousee，yourself，thatyourmindismerelyamachine，nothingmore。Youhavenocommandoverit，ithasnocommandoveritselfitisworkedSOLELYFROMTHEOUTSIDE。
Thatisthelawofitsmake;itisthelawofallmachines。
Y。M。Can’tIEVERchangeoneoftheseautomaticopinions？
O。M。No。Youcan’tyourself，butEXTERIORINFLUENCEScandoit。
Y。M。AndexterioronesONLY？
O。M。Yesexterioronesonly。
Y。M。ThatpositionisuntenableImaysayludicrouslyuntenable。
O。M。Whatmakesyouthinkso？
Y。M。Idon’tmerelythinkit，Iknowit。SupposeIresolvetoenteruponacourseofthought，andstudy，andreading，withthedeliberatepurposeofchangingthatopinion;andsupposeI
succeed。THATisnottheworkofanexteriorimpulse，thewholeofitismineandpersonal;forIoriginatedtheproject。
O。M。Notashredofit。ITGREWOUTOFTHISTALKWITHME。
Butforthatitwouldnothaveoccurredtoyou。Nomaneveroriginatesanything。Allhisthoughts，allhisimpulses，comeFROMTHEOUTSIDE。
Y。M。It’sanexasperatingsubject。TheFIRSTmanhadoriginalthoughts，anyway;therewasnobodytodrawfrom。
O。M。Itisamistake。Adam’sthoughtscametohimfromtheoutside。YOUhaveafearofdeath。Youdidnotinventthatyougotitfromoutside，fromtalkingandteaching。Adamhadnofearofdeathnoneintheworld。
Y。M。Yes，hehad。
O。M。Whenhewascreated？
Y。M。No。
O。M。When，then？
Y。M。Whenhewasthreatenedwithit。
O。M。ThenitcamefromOUTSIDE。Adamisquitebigenough;
letusnottrytomakeagodofhim。NONEBUTGODSHAVEEVERHAD
ATHOUGHTWHICHDIDNOTCOMEFROMTHEOUTSIDE。Adamprobablyhadagoodhead，butitwasofnosortofusetohimuntilitwasfilledupFROMTHEOUTSIDE。Hewasnotabletoinventthetriflingestlittlethingwithit。HehadnotashadowofanotionofthedifferencebetweengoodandevilhehadtogettheideaFROMTHEOUTSIDE。NeitherhenorEvewasabletooriginatetheideathatitwasimmodesttogonaked;theknowledgecameinwiththeappleFROMTHEOUTSIDE。Aman’sbrainissoconstructedthatITCANORIGINATENOTHINGWHATSOEVER。ItcanonlyusematerialobtainedOUTSIDE。Itismerelyamachine;anditworksautomatically，notbywillpower。ITHASNOCOMMANDOVERITSELF，ITSOWNERHASNOCOMMANDOVERIT。
Y。M。Well，nevermindAdam:butcertainlyShakespeare’screations
O。M。No，youmeanShakespeare’sIMITATIONS。Shakespearecreatednothing。Hecorrectlyobserved，andhemarvelouslypainted。HeexactlyportrayedpeoplewhomGODhadcreated;buthecreatednonehimself。Letussparehimtheslanderofcharginghimwithtrying。Shakespearecouldnotcreate。HEWAS
AMACHINE，ANDMACHINESDONOTCREATE。
Y。M。WhereWAShisexcellence，then？
O。M。Inthis。Hewasnotasewingmachine，likeyouandme;hewasaGobelinloom。ThethreadsandthecolorscameintohimFROMTHEOUTSIDE;outsideinfluences，suggestions，EXPERIENCES（reading，seeingplays，playingplays，borrowingideas，andsoon），framedthepatternsinhismindandstarteduphiscomplexandadmirablemachinery，andITAUTOMATICALLYturnedoutthatpicturedandgorgeousfabricwhichstillcompelstheastonishmentoftheworld。IfShakespearehadbeenbornandbredonabarrenandunvisitedrockintheoceanhismightyintellectwouldhavehadnoOUTSIDEMATERIALtoworkwith，andcouldhaveinventednone;andNOOUTSIDEINFLUENCES，teachings，moldings，persuasions，inspirations，ofavaluablesort，andcouldhaveinventednone;andsoShakespearewouldhaveproducednothing。
InTurkeyhewouldhaveproducedsomethingsomethinguptothehighestlimitofTurkishinfluences，associations，andtraining。
InFrancehewouldhaveproducedsomethingbettersomethinguptothehighestlimitoftheFrenchinfluencesandtraining。InEnglandherosetothehighestlimitattainablethroughtheOUTSIDEHELPSAFFORDEDBYTHATLAND’SIDEALS，INFLUENCES，AND
TRAINING。YouandIarebutsewingmachines。Wemustturnoutwhatwecan;wemustdoourendeavorandcarenothingatallwhentheunthinkingreproachusfornotturningoutGobelins。
Y。M。Andsowearemeremachines！Andmachinesmaynotboast，norfeelproudoftheirperformance，norclaimpersonalmeritforit，norapplauseandpraise。Itisaninfamousdoctrine。
O。M。Itisn’tadoctrine，itismerelyafact。
Y。M。Isuppose，then，thereisnomoremeritinbeingbravethaninbeingacoward？
O。M。PERSONALmerit？No。AbravemandoesnotCREATEhisbravery。Heisentitledtonopersonalcreditforpossessingit。
Itisborntohim。Ababybornwithabilliondollarswhereisthepersonalmeritinthat？Ababybornwithnothingwhereisthepersonaldemeritinthat？Theoneisfawnedupon，admired，worshiped，bysycophants，theotherisneglectedanddespised
whereisthesenseinit？
Y。M。Sometimesatimidmansetshimselfthetaskofconqueringhiscowardiceandbecomingbraveandsucceeds。Whatdoyousaytothat？
O。M。ThatitshowsthevalueofTRAININGINRIGHT
DIRECTIONSOVERTRAININGINWRONGONES。Inestimablyvaluableistraining，influence，education，inrightdirectionsTRAINING
ONE’SSELFAPPROBATIONTOELEVATEITSIDEALS。
Y。M。Butastomeritthepersonalmeritofthevictoriouscoward’sprojectandachievement？
O。M。Thereisn’tany。Intheworld’sviewheisaworthiermanthanhewasbefore，butHEdidn’tachievethechangethemeritofitisnothis。
Y。M。Whose，then？
O。M。HisMAKE，andtheinfluenceswhichwroughtuponitfromtheoutside。
Y。M。Hismake？
O。M。Tostartwith，hewasNOTutterlyandcompletelyacoward，ortheinfluenceswouldhavehadnothingtoworkupon。
Hewasnotafraidofacow，thoughperhapsofabull:notafraidofawoman，butafraidofaman。Therewassomethingtobuildupon。TherewasaSEED。Noseed，noplant。Didhemakethatseedhimself，orwasitborninhim？ItwasnomeritofHISthattheseedwasthere。
Y。M。Well，anyway，theideaofCULTIVATINGit，theresolutiontocultivateit，wasmeritorious，andheoriginatedthat。
O。M。Hedidnothingofthekind。ItcamewhenceALL
impulses，goodorbad，comefromOUTSIDE。Ifthattimidmanhadlivedallhislifeinacommunityofhumanrabbits，hadneverreadofbravedeeds，hadneverheardspeakofthem，hadneverheardanyonepraisethemnorexpressenvyoftheheroesthathaddonethem，hewouldhavehadnomoreideaofbraverythanAdamhadofmodesty，anditcouldneverbyanypossibilityhaveoccurredtohimtoRESOLVEtobecomebrave。HeCOULDNOT
ORIGINATETHEIDEAithadtocometohimfromtheOUTSIDE。Andso，whenheheardbraveryextolledandcowardicederided，itwokehimup。Hewasashamed。Perhapshissweetheartturneduphernoseandsaid，\"Iamtoldthatyouareacoward！\"ItwasnotHE
thatturnedoverthenewleafshediditforhim。HEmustnotstrutaroundinthemeritofititisnothis。
Y。M。But，anyway，herearedtheplantaftershewateredtheseed。
O。M。No。OUTSIDEINFLUENCESrearedit。Atthecommand
andtremblinghemarchedoutintothefieldwithothersoldiersandinthedaytime，notaloneandinthedark。HehadtheINFLUENCEOFEXAMPLE，hedrewcouragefromhiscomrades’courage;
hewasafraid，andwantedtorun，buthedidnotdare;hewasAFRAIDtorun，withallthosesoldierslookingon。Hewasprogressing，youseethemoralfearofshamehadrisensuperiortothephysicalfearofharm。BytheendofthecampaignexperiencewillhavetaughthimthatnotALLwhogointobattlegethurtanoutsideinfluencewhichwillbehelpfultohim;andhewillalsohavelearnedhowsweetitistobepraisedforcourageandbehuzza’datwithtearchokedvoicesasthewarwornregimentmarchespasttheworshipingmultitudewithflagsflyingandthedrumsbeating。AfterthathewillbeassecurelybraveasanyveteraninthearmyandtherewillnotbeashadenorsuggestionofPERSONALMERITinitanywhere;itwillallhavecomefromtheOUTSIDE。TheVictoriaCrossbreedsmoreheroesthan
Y。M。Hangit，whereisthesenseinhisbecomingbraveifheistogetnocreditforit？
O。M。Yourquestionwillansweritselfpresently。Itinvolvesanimportantdetailofman’smakewhichwehavenotyettouchedupon。
Y。M。Whatdetailisthat？
O。M。Theimpulsewhichmovesapersontodothingstheonlyimpulsethatevermovesapersontodoathing。
Y。M。TheONLYone！Istherebutone？
O。M。Thatisall。Thereisonlyone。
Y。M。Well，certainlythatisastrangeenoughdoctrine。
Whatisthesoleimpulsethatevermovesapersontodoathing？
O。M。TheimpulsetoCONTENTHISOWNSPIRITtheNECESSITY
ofcontentinghisownspiritandWINNINGITSAPPROVAL。
Y。M。Oh，come，thatwon’tdo！
O。M。Whywon’tit？
Y。M。Becauseitputshimintheattitudeofalwayslookingoutforhisowncomfortandadvantage;whereasanunselfishmanoftendoesathingsolelyforanotherperson’sgoodwhenitisapositivedisadvantagetohimself。
O。M。Itisamistake。TheactmustdoHIMgood，FIRST;
otherwisehewillnotdoit。HemayTHINKheisdoingitsolelyfortheotherperson’ssake，butitisnotso;heiscontentinghisownspiritfirsttheother’sperson’sbenefithastoalwaystakeSECONDplace。
Y。M。Whatafantasticidea！Whatbecomesofself
sacrifice？Pleaseanswermethat。
O。M。Whatisselfsacrifice？
Y。M。Thedoinggoodtoanotherpersonwherenoshadownorsuggestionofbenefittoone’sselfcanresultfromit。
II
Man’sSoleImpulsetheSecuringofHisOwnApprovalOldMan。Therehavebeeninstancesofityouthink？
YoungMan。INSTANCES？Millionsofthem！
O。M。Youhavenotjumpedtoconclusions？Youhaveexaminedthemcritically？
Y。M。Theydon’tneedit:theactsthemselvesrevealthegoldenimpulsebackofthem。
O。M。Forinstance？
Y。M。Well，then，forinstance。Takethecaseinthebookhere。Themanlivesthreemilesuptown。Itisbittercold，snowinghard，midnight。Heisabouttoenterthehorsecarwhenagrayandraggedoldwoman，atouchingpictureofmisery，putsoutherleanhandandbegsforrescuefromhungeranddeath。Themanfindsthathehasaquarterinhispocket，buthedoesnothesitate:hegivesitherandtrudgeshomethroughthestorm。
Thereitisnoble，itisbeautiful;itsgraceismarredbynofleckorblemishorsuggestionofselfinterest。
O。M。Whatmakesyouthinkthat？
Y。M。PraywhatelsecouldIthink？Doyouimaginethatthereissomeotherwayoflookingatit？
O。M。Canyouputyourselfintheman’splaceandtellmewhathefeltandwhathethought？
Y。M。Easily。Thesightofthatsufferingoldfacepiercedhisgenerousheartwithasharppain。Hecouldnotbearit。Hecouldendurethethreemilewalkinthestorm，buthecouldnotendurethetortureshisconsciencewouldsufferifheturnedhisbackandleftthatpooroldcreaturetoperish。Hewouldnothavebeenabletosleep，forthinkingofit。
O。M。Whatwashisstateofmindonhiswayhome？
Y。M。Itwasastateofjoywhichonlytheselfsacrificerknows。Hisheartsang，hewasunconsciousofthestorm。
O。M。Hefeltwell？
Y。M。Onecannotdoubtit。
O。M。Verywell。Nowletusaddupthedetailsandseehowmuchhegotforhistwentyfivecents。LetustrytofindouttheREALwhyofhismakingtheinvestment。InthefirstplaceHE
couldn’tbearthepainwhichtheoldsufferingfacegavehim。SohewasthinkingofHISpainthisgoodman。Hemustbuyasalveforit。IfhedidnotsuccortheoldwomanHISconsciencewouldtorturehimallthewayhome。ThinkingofHISpainagain。Hemustbuyreliefforthat。Ifhedidn’trelievetheoldwomanHE
wouldnotgetanysleep。HemustbuysomesleepstillthinkingofHIMSELF，yousee。Thus，tosumup，heboughthimselffreeofasharppaininhisheart，heboughthimselffreeofthetorturesofawaitingconscience，heboughtawholenight’ssleepallfortwentyfivecents！ItshouldmakeWallStreetashamedofitself。
Onhiswayhomehisheartwasjoyful，anditsangprofitontopofprofit！TheimpulsewhichmovedthemantosuccortheoldwomanwasFIRSTtoCONTENTHISOWNSPIRIT;secondlytorelieveHERsufferings。Isityouropinionthatmen’sactsproceedfromonecentralandunchangingandinalterableimpulse，orfromavarietyofimpulses？
Y。M。Fromavariety，ofcoursesomehighandfineandnoble，othersnot。Whatisyouropinion？
O。M。ThenthereisbutONElaw，onesource。
Y。M。Thatboththenoblestimpulsesandthebasestproceedfromthatonesource？
O。M。Yes。
Y。M。Willyouputthatlawintowords？
O。M。Yes。Thisisthelaw，keepitinyourmind。FROMHIS
CRADLETOHISGRAVEAMANNEVERDOESASINGLETHINGWHICHHASANY
FIRSTANDFOREMOSTOBJECTBUTONETOSECUREPEACEOFMIND，SPIRITUALCOMFORT，FORHIMSELF。
Y。M。Come！Heneverdoesanythingforanyoneelse’scomfort，spiritualorphysical？
O。M。No。EXCEPTONTHOSEDISTINCTTERMSthatitshallFIRSTsecureHISOWNspiritualcomfort。Otherwisehewillnotdoit。
Y。M。Itwillbeeasytoexposethefalsityofthatproposition。
O。M。Forinstance？
Y。M。Takethatnoblepassion，loveofcountry，patriotism。
Amanwholovespeaceanddreadspain，leaveshispleasanthomeandhisweepingfamilyandmarchesouttomanfullyexposehimselftohunger，cold，wounds，anddeath。Isthatseekingspiritualcomfort？
O。M。Helovespeaceanddreadspain？
Y。M。Yes。
O。M。ThenperhapsthereissomethingthathelovesMORE
thanhelovespeaceTHEAPPROVALOFHISNEIGHBORSANDTHE
PUBLIC。AndperhapsthereissomethingwhichhedreadsmorethanhedreadspaintheDISAPPROVALofhisneighborsandthepublic。
IfheissensitivetoshamehewillgotothefieldnotbecausehisspiritwillbeENTIRELYcomfortablethere，butbecauseitwillbemorecomfortabletherethanitwouldbeifheremainedathome。HewillalwaysdothethingwhichwillbringhimtheMOST
mentalcomfortforthatisTHESOLELAWOFHISLIFE。Heleavestheweepingfamilybehind;heissorrytomakethemuncomfortable，butnotsorryenoughtosacrificehisOWNcomforttosecuretheirs。
Y。M。Doyoureallybelievethatmerepublicopinioncouldforceatimidandpeacefulmanto
O。M。Gotowar？YespublicopinioncanforcesomementodoANYTHING。
Y。M。ANYTHING？
O。M。Yesanything。
Y。M。Idon’tbelievethat。Canitforcearightprincipledmantodoawrongthing？
O。M。Yes。
Y。M。Canitforceakindmantodoacruelthing？
O。M。Yes。
Y。M。Giveaninstance。
O。M。AlexanderHamiltonwasaconspicuouslyhighprincipledman。Heregardedduelingaswrong，andasopposedtotheteachingsofreligionbutindeferencetoPUBLICOPINIONhefoughtaduel。Hedeeplylovedhisfamily，buttobuypublicapprovalhetreacherouslydesertedthemandthrewhislifeaway，ungenerouslyleavingthemtolifelongsorrowinorderthathemightstandwellwithafoolishworld。Inthethenconditionofthepublicstandardsofhonorhecouldnothavebeencomfortablewiththestigmauponhimofhavingrefusedtofight。Theteachingsofreligion，hisdevotiontohisfamily，hiskindnessofheart，hishighprinciples，allwentfornothingwhentheystoodinthewayofhisspiritualcomfort。AmanwilldoANYTHING，nomatterwhatitis，TOSECUREHISSPIRITUALCOMFORT;
andhecanneitherbeforcednorpersuadedtoanyactwhichhasnotthatgoalforitsobject。Hamilton’sactwascompelledbytheinbornnecessityofcontentinghisownspirit;inthisitwaslikealltheotheractsofhislife，andlikealltheactsofallmen’slives。Doyouseewherethekernelofthematterlies？A
mancannotbecomfortablewithoutHISOWNapproval。Hewillsecurethelargestsharepossibleofthat，atallcosts，allsacrifices。
Y。M。AminuteagoyousaidHamiltonfoughtthatdueltogetPUBLICapproval。
O。M。Idid。Byrefusingtofighttheduelhewouldhavesecuredhisfamily’sapprovalandalargeshareofhisown;butthepublicapprovalwasmorevaluableinhiseyesthanallotherapprovalsputtogetherintheearthoraboveit;tosecurethatwouldfurnishhimtheMOSTcomfortofmind，themostSELF
approval;sohesacrificedallothervaluestogetit。
Y。M。Somenoblesoulshaverefusedtofightduels，andhavemanfullybravedthepubliccontempt。
O。M。TheyactedACCORDINGTOTHEIRMAKE。TheyvaluedtheirprinciplesandtheapprovaloftheirfamiliesABOVEthepublicapproval。TheytookthethingtheyvaluedMOSTandlettherestgo。TheytookwhatwouldgivethemtheLARGESTshareofPERSONAL
CONTENTMENTANDAPPROVALamanALWAYSdoes。Publicopinioncannotforcethatkindofmentogotothewars。Whentheygoitisforotherreasons。Otherspiritcontentingreasons。
Y。M。Alwaysspiritcontentingreasons？
O。M。Therearenoothers。
Y。M。Whenamansacrificeshislifetosavealittlechildfromaburningbuilding，whatdoyoucallthat？
O。M。Whenhedoesit，itisthelawofHISmake。HEcan’tbeartoseethechildinthatperil（amanofadifferentmakeCOULD），andsohetriestosavethechild，andloseshislife。
ButhehasgotwhathewasafterHISOWNAPPROVAL。
Y。M。WhatdoyoucallLove，Hate，Charity，Revenge，Humanity，Magnanimity，Forgiveness？
O。M。DifferentresultsoftheoneMasterImpulse:thenecessityofsecuringone’sselfapproval。Theyweardiverseclothesandaresubjecttodiversemoods，butinwhatsoeverwaystheymasqueradetheyaretheSAMEPERSONallthetime。Tochangethefigure，theCOMPULSIONthatmovesamanandthereisbuttheoneisthenecessityofsecuringthecontentmentofhisownspirit。Whenitstops，themanisdead。
Y。M。Thatisfoolishness。Love
O。M。Why，loveisthatimpulse，thatlaw，initsmostuncompromisingform。Itwillsquanderlifeandeverythingelseonitsobject。NotPRIMARILYfortheobject’ssake，butforITS
OWN。WhenitsobjectishappyITishappyandthatiswhatitisunconsciouslyafter。
Y。M。Youdonotevenexcepttheloftyandgraciouspassionofmotherlove？
O。M。No，ITistheabsoluteslaveofthatlaw。Themotherwillgonakedtoclotheherchild;shewillstarvethatitmayhavefood;suffertorturetosaveitfrompain;diethatitmaylive。ShetakesalivingPLEASUREinmakingthesesacrifices。
SHEDOESITFORTHATREWARDthatselfapproval，thatcontentment，thatpeace，thatcomfort。SHEWOULDDOITFORYOUR
CHILDIFSHECOULDGETTHESAMEPAY。
Y。M。Thisisaninfernalphilosophyofyours。
O。M。Itisn’taphilosophy，itisafact。
Y。M。Ofcourseyoumustadmitthattherearesomeactswhich
O。M。No。ThereisNOact，largeorsmall，fineormean，whichspringsfromanymotivebuttheonethenecessityofappeasingandcontentingone’sownspirit。
Y。M。Theworld’sphilanthropists
O。M。Ihonorthem，Iuncovermyheadtothemfromhabitandtraining;andTHEYcouldnotknowcomfortorhappinessorselfapprovaliftheydidnotworkandspendfortheunfortunate。
ItmakesTHEMhappytoseeothershappy;andsowithmoneyandlabortheybuywhattheyareafterHAPPINESS，SELFAPPROVAL。
Whydon’tminersdothesamething？BecausetheycangetathousandfoldmorehappinessbyNOTdoingit。Thereisnootherreason。Theyfollowthelawoftheirmake。
Y。M。Whatdoyousayofdutyforduty’ssake？
O。M。ThatISDOESNOTEXIST。Dutiesarenotperformedforduty’sSAKE，butbecausetheirNEGLECTwouldmakethemanUNCOMFORTABLE。AmanperformsbutONEdutythedutyofcontentinghisspirit，thedutyofmakinghimselfagreeabletohimself。IfhecanmostsatisfyinglyperformthissoleandonlydutybyHELPINGhisneighbor，hewilldoit;ifhecanmostsatisfyinglyperformitbySWINDLINGhisneighbor，hewilldoit。
ButhealwayslooksoutforNumberOneFIRST;theeffectsuponothersareaSECONDARYmatter。Menpretendtoselfsacrifices，butthisisathingwhich，intheordinaryvalueofthephrase，DOESNOTEXISTANDHASNOTEXISTED。AmanoftenhonestlyTHINKS
heissacrificinghimselfmerelyandsolelyforsomeoneelse，butheisdeceived;hisbottomimpulseistocontentarequirementofhisnatureandtraining，andthusacquirepeaceforhissoul。
Y。M。Apparently，then，allmen，bothgoodandbadones，devotetheirlivestocontentingtheirconsciences。
O。M。Yes。Thatisagoodenoughnameforit:Conscience
thatindependentSovereign，thatinsolentabsoluteMonarchinsideofamanwhoistheman’sMaster。Thereareallkindsofconsciences，becausethereareallkindsofmen。Yousatisfyanassassin’sconscienceinoneway，aphilanthropist’sinanother，amiser’sinanother，aburglar’sinstillanother。AsaGUIDE
orINCENTIVEtoanyauthoritativelyprescribedlineofmoralsorconduct（leavingTRAININGoutoftheaccount），aman’sconscienceistotallyvalueless。IknowakindheartedKentuckianwhoseselfapprovalwaslackingwhoseconsciencewastroublinghim，tophraseitwithexactnessBECAUSEHEHADNEGLECTEDTOKILLA
CERTAINMANamanwhomhehadneverseen。Thestrangerhadkilledthisman’sfriendinafight，thisman’sKentuckytrainingmadeitadutytokillthestrangerforit。Heneglectedhisdutykeptdodgingit，shirkingit，puttingitoff，andhisunrelentingconsciencekeptpersecutinghimforthisconduct。Atlast，togeteaseofmind，comfort，selfapproval，hehuntedupthestrangerandtookhislife。ItwasanimmenseactofSELF
SACRIFICE（aspertheusualdefinition），forhedidnotwanttodoit，andheneverwouldhavedoneitifhecouldhaveboughtacontentedspiritandanunworriedmindatsmallercost。ButwearesomadethatwewillpayANYTHINGforthatcontentmentevenanotherman’slife。
Y。M。YouspokeamomentagoofTRAINEDconsciences。YoumeanthatwearenotBORNwithconsciencescompetenttoguideusaright？
O。M。Ifwewere，childrenandsavageswouldknowrightfromwrong，andnothavetobetaughtit。
Y。M。ButconsciencescanbeTRAINED？
O。M。Yes。
Y。M。Ofcoursebyparents，teachers，thepulpit，andbooks。
O。M。Yestheydotheirshare;theydowhattheycan。
Y。M。Andtherestisdoneby
O。M。Oh，amillionunnoticedinfluencesforgoodorbad:
influenceswhichworkwithoutrestduringeverywakingmomentofaman’slife，fromcradletograve。
Y。M。Youhavetabulatedthese？
O。M。Manyofthemyes。
Y。M。Willyoureadmetheresult？
O。M。Anothertime，yes。Itwouldtakeanhour。
Y。M。Aconsciencecanbetrainedtoshunevilandprefergood？
O。M。Yes。
Y。M。Butwillitforspiritcontentingreasonsonly？
O。M。ItCAN’TbetrainedtodoathingforanyOTHERreason。