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。