p. 131 | A CONTRAST

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 24, 1879

A CONTRAST.

“HE who can take advice is sometimes superior to him who can give it.”—Von Krebel.

Superior minds are always teachable. They are ready to hear from everybody, and from everything around them. They thirst for knowledge, and will glean it from every available source. They can take advice from inferiors, and be docile as childhood itself. Even the sarcasms and backbitings of their enemies are not lost upon them. Ill-natured criticisms, though the offspring of mere spleen, and envy, and malice, will be so taken as to afford many a useful hint for their improvement. The intended poison becomes only a wholesome medicine to them.

Inferior minds—minds which are molded in a narrow and limited pattern—are prone to be opinionated and dogmatical. “Doubtless they are the men, and wisdom shall die with them.” Their statements must not be questioned. Their decisions must have the force of law. Their education is finished. Their mental acquirements are all gathered in and stereotyped. Nothing remains to be added. They can teach and advise, but have nothing more to learn. They have no patience with those who oppose them. Sarcasms and backbiting are unendurable. Ill-will only begets anger and recrimination.

To which of these two classes will our readers choose to belong?—Selected.