THOUGHT AND ACTION by Walter B. Vassar

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 43.

THOUGHT AND ACTION.

By Walter B. Vassar

It is in the inter-play of thought and action that we have the philosophy of all human living, and back of all conduct lies that which makes it to be. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,” and the Bible, the greatest book of morals, furnishes a motto for every book of ethics ever to be issued. Every grade of human conscience able to grasp it must give it assent. The marvel is that it is not a more frequent text for the preacher. It would be no loss to any of us to be startled by the question: What kind of man am I, and why am I thus?

Every thought ministers to the work of life. We need to see that every holy thought is as holy in the work it has to do, as the prayer we make and with which we associate the conception of holiness and God.

This is an old principle—as old as the God who gave it. We need every day to make a fresh application. The men who discover new principles are the rare men. The most of us are left with the work of putting the old principles in operation.

We need to see, too, that when thought passes into action, it becomes fused into personality. This is what makes conduct so serious a matter. All is gone beyond our control. It is at this point that fellow-men give us credit for our good, and hold us responsible for the wrong.

It is in the inter-play of thought and action that we are called upon to do our closest thinking. To say of a bad act that the man performing it is not so bad as his deed, is never a good use of our charity. The thinking and the performing man is one and the same man in the process of living.

“Think all you speak; but speak not all you think: Thoughts are your own; your words are so no more. Where wisdom steers, wind can not make you sink: Lips never err, when she does keep the door.”

Hamilton, N. Y.

WALTER B. VASSAR.