Truth-Seeking and Passionate Argument
MEN are impelled to seek information either from a love of knowledge with a view to usefulness, or from selfish motives with reference to gain. A sound discriminating logic in the investigation and defense of truth is wholly incompatible with the promptings of passion. We instinctively refuse to believe what a mad or excited man says about anything. That he was excited or mad when he made the statement is quite sufficient to cast suspicion upon the correctness of it. Whenever we attempt to talk or argue from selfish motives or passions, we are easily excited. The slightest opposition enlists the passions, and an angry unprofitable discussion, so far as truth is concerned, is the result. On the contrary, the man who sincerely desires to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, with reference to usefulness, is patient and persevering in his arguments; forbearing and courteous toward opponents, readily yielding any position as soon as the error of it is shown. Truth, with such a man, is everything; error, nothing. There is moral grandeur in such a man.—West Recorder.