Every man…must be trusted to himself – Sunday, June 14, 1959
As to mental, physical and spiritual discipline, sometime ago we cited some sentences from John Locke which said: “Consent to nothing but what may be suitable to the dignity and excellency of a rational creature. . ..
The great principle and foundation of all virtue and worth is . . . this: that a man is able to deny himself his own desires, cross his own inclinations, . . . tho’ the appetite lean the other way…. And now briefly we should like to let John Locke introduce another subject for us with this short and significant sentence: “Every man must some time or other be trusted to himself and his own conduct; . . . “1
No matter how sheltered we may have been, or how much we may have depended on others, there are times when we have to make our own choices, when we have to face facts, stand up to temptation, preserve principles; when we have to decide the course and accept the consequences.
“Every man must some time or other be trusted to himself. . .. “1 With the swiftly moving seasons, the time comes soon, or so it seems, when young people move out and away—from home, from family, from friends: some for further education, some for work, some for marriage, or for a multiplicity of purposes. And at these times of leave-taking from long-felt influence of family and friends, parents and others also understandably feel some cause for concern. And well would they, except as sound principles have been instilled into the lives of those who leave. And as to youth, well would they know that there do inevitably come times for choosing, for discriminating, for deciding for themselves.
Others cannot always go with us; others cannot always watch; others cannot always make our choices, our decisions, or live our lives. There are countless times when, by the necessity of circumstances, we have to decide for ourselves. And to youth we would say: live by the sound and safe principles implanted in your hearts by righteous parents and teachers. And to parents and teachers we would say: implant sound principles as early as possible, by precept and by the righteous living of life.
“Every man must some time or other be trusted to himself…. And blessed are they who early have implanted in their souls the foundations for facing these facts.
1 John Locke, Some Thoughts concerning Education
June 14, 1959
Broadcast Number 1,556