Concerning Contrary Opinion – Sunday, September 30, 1945
It is probable that all men, regardless of any professions they may make to the contrary, are sensitive to the opinions of others. And yet it is not uncommon to hear those who say that they don’t care what other people think. But in saying this, perhaps they are not quite stating the truth, and if they are, perhaps they are not quite as wise as they might be. It is of first importance, of course, to be right. But, even being right, it is also of great importance to have other people think we are right. And he who ignores prevailing opinion, right or wrong, does his cause an injustice, because, in doing so, often he may alienate those who should be rallied to his support.
Even a righteous cause has need of friends, and would do well to cultivate them if it can without compromise. Sometimes he who has discovered a great truth, and who has been ridiculed, misunderstood, disbelieved, and hurt because of it, might seem to be justified in withdrawing himself and saying that he doesn’t care what others think. But in fact he owes it to the very truth he has discovered, he owes it to the perpetuation of the things he knows to be right, to care what other people think, because perhaps only by caring what they think will he be able to get them to see the truth. Of course, truth doesn’t need the good opinion of anyone for its survival.
Truth is impervious to the opinions of men. But a man can be the possessor of a great truth and still be very lonely, and very uncomfortable—and his truth may be lonely with him. What others think is important—even if it isn’t right, because there is some reason for what they think, and if we know what they think, it may help us to know the reason, and to understand them. And, if we understand them, it may help them to understand us. Everyone’s opinion is relatively important because it represents part of what the world thinks, and what the world thinks, it does. Of course, there is the extreme of being slavishly sensitive to the opinions of others, which no man can afford to do. No self-respecting individual would ever compromise a principle for the good opinion of anyone and if he did, he wouldn’t get it.
To be respectfully concerned about the opinions of others does not mean that we must accept their opinions. But as to that stubborn individual who bluntly and indiscriminately says he doesn’t care what other people think—even though we may admire his courage, we are appalled at his unwisdom. The chances are greatly in favor of the proposition that he does care. But whether he does or not, he should.
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Sept. 30,1945. Copyright 1945.
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September 30, 1945
Broadcast Number 0,841