THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR 601Now let me whisper a secret in your ear-a secret that I have had
to gather from grief and heartaches and unnecessary punishment of the
hardest sort: Instead of "quitting" the job because there were obstacles
to master and difficulties to be overcome, if you had faced the facts you
would have better understood that life itself is just one long series of
mastery of difficulties and obstacles.
The measure of a person may be taken very accurately by the
extent to which they adapt themself to their environment and make
it their business to accept responsibility for every adversity with which
they meet, whether the adversity grows out of a cause within their
control or not. If you feel that what I am saying is rather severe, know
that I have had to punish myself even more before I learned the truth
that I am passing on to you for your use and guidance.
I have a few enemies-and thank God for them!-for they have
been vulgar and merciless enough to say some things about me that
forced me to rid myself of some of my most serious shortcomings,
mainly those I did not know I had. I have profited by the criticism
of these enemies without having to pay them for their services in
dollars, although I have paid in other ways.
However, it was not until some years ago that I caught sight of
some of my most glaring faults which were brought to my attention
as I studied Emerson's essay Compensation, particularly this part:
Our strength grows out of our weakness.
Not until we are pricked, and stung, and sorely shot at,
awakens the indignation which arms itself with secret forces.
A great man is always willing to be little. While he sits on the
cushion of advantage he goes to sleep. When he is pushed,
tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he
has been put on his wits, on his manhood; he has gained
facts; learned his ignorance; is cured of the insanity of con-
ceit; has got moderation and real skill. The wise man always
throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his