678 THE PRINCIPLES OF SELF-CREATION
In the realm of legal procedure there is a principle called the law
of evidence, and the object of this law is to get at the facts. Any judge
can proceed with justice to all concerned if they have the facts upon
which to base their judgment, but they may play havoc with innocent
people if they circumvent the law of evidence and reach a conclusion
or judgment that is based on hearsay information.
The specific rules of evidence vary according to the subject and
circumstances with which they are used, but you will not go far wrong
if you follow this rule: If you do not have hard facts to work from,
form your judgment on the part of the evidence before you that fur-
thers your own interests-without working any hardship on others--and is
based on facts.
The phrase "without working any hardship on others" is a crucial
and important point in this lesson. Many people mistake, knowingly
or otherwise, expediency for fact-doing something, or refraining
from doing it, for the sole reason that their action furthers their own
interests-without consideration as to whether it interferes with the
rights of others.
It is amazing, to the more advanced student of Accurate Thinking,
how many people there are who are "honest" when it is profitable to
them, but find innumerable "facts" to justify themselves in following
a dishonest course when that course seems to be more profitable or
advantageous.
The accurate thinker deals with facts, regardless of how they
affect his or her own interests, for they know that ultimately this
policy will bring them out on top, in full possession of the object
of their Definite Chief Aim in life. They understand the soundness
of the philosophy that Croesus had in mind when he said, "There is
a wheel on which the affairs of men revolve, and its mechanism is such
that it prevents any man from being always fortunate:'
The accurate thinker adopts a standard by which they guide
themself, and they follow that standard at all times. The standard