Don't Be too Positive by Sel.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 40.

Don't Be too Positive.

By Sel.

Boys, don't be too certain. Remember that nothing is easier than to be mistaken; and if you permit yourself to be so very positive in your mistakes a great many times everybody will lose confidence in what you say. Never make a positive statement unless you know it is as you say. If you have any doubts, or if there is room for any, remove the possibility by examination before speaking, or speak cautiously. Don't be too certain. "John, where is the hammer?" "It is in the corn-crib." "No, it is not there; I have just been looking there." "Well, I know it is; I saw it there not half an hour ago." "If you saw it there, it must be there, of course; but suppose you go and fetch it."

John goes to the corn-crib, and presently returns with a small axe in his hand. "Oh, it was the axe I saw; the handle was sticking out from a half-bushel measure; I thought it was the hammer." "But you said positively that you did see the hammer, not that you thought you saw it." There is a great difference between the two answers. Do not permit yourself to make a positive statement even about a small matter unless you are quite sure; for if you do you will find the habit growing upon you, and by-and-by you will begin to make loose replies to questions of great importance. Don't be too certain.—Sel.