Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 8, 1910

Words of Counsel

We are living in an age of the false and sophisticated, and it is to be regretted that much of the education of the present day cultivates this spirit in the minds of young men and women. Many graduates go out from the higher institutions of learning with false conceptions of life, with false ideals, and very poorly prepared to relate themselves to the experiences which lie before them. The following excellent counsel, given to a graduating class several weeks ago by Mayor Gaynor, of New York City, contains some good advice:—

Do not go out of here puffed up with pride. Be simple men. A man who has inordinate pride has no charity whatever. He does not treat anybody right. Bring yourself down to simplicity. Let your prayer be every morning, “O Lord, save me this day from being proud and arrogant, because I am only a little man here, with other men.” This is sometimes hard, but it will do you good.

The vain man never reaches the highest point in the professions. Be simple. Lead the simple life. It is the simple man who succeeds. Do not arrogate airs to yourself, because they easily slide off. Go out of here with no notion that you are learned men, or that your education is complete. Anybody who thinks so had better stay on here. Keep on studying. To be a success you must work hard.