THE HASTE OF LIFE by Bishop of Ripon

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 11, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 32.

THE HASTE OF LIFE.

By Bishop of Ripon

It is one of the misfortunes of our age that we have so little leisure. The haste of life brings many disadvantages; it hinders thoroughness of work, it destroys largely our reverence for life, since we hardly cherish much respect for what we do hurriedly. The result is that the world is full of hasty judgments; men are driven to decide almost before they have had leisure to deliberate. The spirit of this haste is infectious; people ask for rapid conclusions; they become impatient of a wise hesitation. The demand brings the supply. On all sides dogmatic utterances are heard; a swift survey is made. A few facts are gathered; an immature conclusion is reached and immediately announced; oracle succeeds oracle, contradicting or confirming; those who counsel deliberation are elbowed out of the way. In the multitude of oracles there is confusion. Men grow bewildered; they drift to one side or the other, having lost their vantage-ground of calm observation. Such a state of things is hardly helpful to truth. What is wanted is a quiet thought. Out of it may come clearer views, better methods of study, and the reverent spirit which is essential to the discovery of truth. God reveals nothing to the hasty. The calm waters best reflect the stars.—Bishop of Ripon.