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self…approval if they did not work and spend for the unfortunate。
It makes THEM happy to see others happy； and so with money and
labor they buy what they are afterHAPPINESS； SELF…APPROVAL。
Why don't miners do the same thing？ Because they can get a
thousandfold more happiness by NOT doing it。 There is no
other reason。 They follow the law of their make。
Y。M。 What do you say of duty for duty's sake？
O。M。 That IS DOES NOT EXIST。 Duties are not performed for
duty's SAKE； but because their NEGLECT would make the man
UNCOMFORTABLE。 A man performs but ONE dutythe duty of
contenting his spirit； the duty of making himself agreeable to
himself。 If he can most satisfyingly perform this sole and only
duty by HELPING his neighbor； he will do it； if he can most
satisfyingly perform it by SWINDLING his neighbor； he will do it。
But he always looks out for Number OneFIRST； the effects upon
others are a SECONDARY matter。 Men pretend to self…sacrifices；
but this is a thing which； in the ordinary value of the phrase；
DOES NOT EXIST AND HAS NOT EXISTED。 A man often honestly THINKS
he is sacrificing himself merely and solely for some one else；
but he is deceived； his bottom impulse is to content a
requirement of his nature and training； and thus acquire peace
for his soul。
Y。M。 Apparently； then； all men； both good and bad ones；
devote their lives to contenting their consciences。
O。M。 Yes。 That is a good enough name for it： Conscience
that independent Sovereign； that insolent absolute Monarch inside
of a man who is the man's Master。 There are all kinds of
consciences； because there are all kinds of men。 You satisfy an
assassin's conscience in one way； a philanthropist's in another；
a miser's in another； a burglar's in still another。 As a GUIDE
or INCENTIVE to any authoritatively prescribed line of morals or
conduct （leaving TRAINING out of the account）； a man's conscience
is totally valueless。 I know a kind…hearted Kentuckian whose
self…approval was lackingwhose conscience was troubling him； to
phrase it with exactnessBECAUSE HE HAD NEGLECTED TO KILL A
CERTAIN MANa man whom he had never seen。 The stranger had
killed this man's friend in a fight； this man's Kentucky training
made it a duty to kill the stranger for it。 He neglected his
dutykept dodging it； shirking it； putting it off； and his
unrelenting conscience kept persecuting him for this conduct。 At
last； to get ease of mind； comfort； self…approval； he hunted up
the stranger and took his life。 It was an immense act of SELF…
SACRIFICE （as per the usual definition）； for he did not want to
do it； and he never would have done it if he could have bought a
contented spirit and an unworried mind at smaller cost。 But we
are so made that we will pay ANYTHING for that contentmenteven
another man's life。
Y。M。 You spoke a moment ago of TRAINED consciences。 You mean
that we are not BORN with consciences competent to guide us aright？
O。M。 If we were； children and savages would know right from wrong；
and not have to be taught it。
Y。M。 But consciences can be TRAINED？
O。M。 Yes。
Y。M。 Of course by parents； teachers； the pulpit； and books。
O。M。 Yesthey do their share； they do what they can。
Y。M。 And the rest is done by
O。M。 Oh； a million unnoticed influencesfor good or bad：
influences which work without rest during every waking moment of
a man's life； from cradle to grave。
Y。M。 You have tabulated these？
O。M。 Many of themyes。
Y。M。 Will you read me the result？
O。M。 Another time； yes。 It would take an hour。
Y。M。 A conscience can be trained to shun evil and prefer good？
O。M。 Yes。
Y。M。 But will it for spirit…contenting reasons only？
O。M。 It CAN'T be trained to do a thing for any OTHER reason。
The thing is impossible。
Y。M。 There MUST be a genuinely and utterly self…sacrificing
act recorded in human history somewhere。
O。M。 You are young。 You have many years before you。
Search one out。
Y。M。 It does seem to me that when a man sees a fellow…being
struggling in the water and jumps in at the risk of his life to
save him
O。M。 Wait。 Describe the MAN。 Describe the FELLOW…BEING。
State if there is an AUDIENCE present； or if they are ALONE。
Y。M。 What have these things to do with the splendid act？
O。M。 Very much。 Shall we suppose； as a beginning； that the
two are alone； in a solitary place； at midnight？
Y。M。 If you choose。
O。M。 And that the fellow…being is the man's daughter？
Y。M。 Well； n…nomake it someone else。
O。M。 A filthy； drunken ruffian； then？
Y。M。 I see。 Circumstances alter cases。 I suppose that if there
was no audience to observe the act； the man wouldn't perform it。
O。M。 But there is here and there a man who WOULD。 People；
for instance； like the man who lost his life trying to save the
child from the fire； and the man who gave the needy old woman his
twenty…five cents and walked home in the stormthere are here
and there men like that who would do it。 And why？ Because they
couldn't BEAR to see a fellow…being struggling in the water and
not jump in and help。 It would give THEM pain。 They would save
the fellow…being on that account。 THEY WOULDN'T DO IT OTHERWISE。
They strictly obey the law which I have been insisting upon。 You
must remember and always distinguish the people who CAN'T BEAR
things from people who CAN。 It will throw light upon a number of
apparently 〃self…sacrificing〃 cases。
Y。M。 Oh； dear； it's all so disgusting。
O。M。 Yes。 And so true。
Y。M。 Cometake the good boy who does things he doesn't
want to do； in order to gratify his mother。
O。M。 He does seven…tenths of the act because it gratifies
HIM to gratify his mother。 Throw the bulk of advantage the other
way and the good boy would not do the act。 He MUST obey the iron
law。 None can escape it。
Y。M。 Well； take the case of a bad boy who
O。M。 You needn't mention it； it is a waste of time。 It is
no matter about the bad boy's act。 Whatever it was； he had a
spirit…contenting reason for it。 Otherwise you have been
misinformed； and he didn't do it。
Y。M。 It is very exasperating。 A while ago you said that man's
conscience is not a born judge of morals and conduct； but has to
be taught and trained。 Now I think a conscience can get drowsy
and lazy； but I don't think it can go wrong； if you wake it up
A Little Story
O。M。 I will tell you a little story：
Once upon a time an Infidel was guest in the house of a
Christian widow whose little boy was ill and near to death。 The
Infidel often watched by the bedside and entertained the boy with
talk； and he used these opportunities to satisfy a strong longing
in his naturethat desire which is in us all to better other
people's condition by having them think as we think。 He was
successful。 But the dying boy； in his last moments； reproached
him and said：
〃I BELIEVED； AND WAS HAPPY IN IT； YOU HAVE TAKEN MY BELIEF
AWAY； AND MY COMFORT。 NOW I HAVE NOTHING LEFT； AND I DIE
MISERABLE； FOR THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE TOLD ME DO NOT TAKE THE
PLACE OF THAT WHICH I HAVE LOST。〃
And the mother； also； reproached the Infidel； and said：
〃MY CHILD IS FOREVER LOST； AND MY HEART IS BROKEN。 HOW
COULD YOU DO THIS CRUEL THING？ WE HAVE DONE YOU NO HARM； BUT
ONLY KINDNESS； WE MADE OUR HOUSE YOUR HOME； YOU WERE WELCOME TO
ALL WE HAD； AND THIS IS OUR REWARD。〃
The heart of the Infidel was filled with remorse for what he
had done； and he said：
〃IT WAS WRONGI SEE IT NOW； BUT I WAS ONLY TRYING TO DO HIM
GOOD。 IN MY VIEW HE WAS IN ERROR； IT SEEMED MY DUTY TO TEACH HIM
THE TRUTH。〃
Then the mother said：
〃I HAD TAUGHT HIM； ALL HIS LITTLE LIFE； WHAT I BELIEVED TO
BE THE TRUTH； AND IN HIS BELIEVING FAITH BOTH OF US WERE HAPPY。
NOW HE IS DEAD；AND LOST； AND I AM MISERABLE。 OUR FAITH CAME
DOWN TO US THROUGH CENTURIES OF BELIEVING ANCESTORS； WHAT RIGHT
HAD YOU； OR ANY ONE； TO DISTURB IT？ WHERE WAS YOUR HONOR； WHERE
WAS YOUR SHAME？〃
Y。M。 He was a miscreant； and deserved death！
O。M。 He thought so himself； and said so。
Y。M。 Ahyou see； HIS CONSCIENCE WAS AWAKENED1！
O。M。 Yes； his Self…Disapproval was。 It PAINED him to see
the mother suffer。 He was sorry he had done a thing which
brought HIM pain。 It did not occur to him to think of the mother
when he was misteaching the boy； for he was absorbed in providing
PLEASURE for himself； then。 Providing it by satisfying what he
believed to be a call of duty。
Y。M。 Call it what you please； it is to me a case of
AWAKENED CONSCIENCE。 That awakened conscience could never get
itself into that species of trouble again。 A cure like that is a
PERMANENT cure。
O。M。 PardonI had not finished the story。 We are
creatures of OUTSIDE INFLUENCESwe originate NOTHING withi