What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain
page 25 of 349 (07%)
page 25 of 349 (07%)
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Y.M. Of course by parents, teachers, the pulpit, and books.
O.M. Yes--they do their share; they do what they can. Y.M. And the rest is done by-- O.M. Oh, a million unnoticed influences--for good or bad: influences which work without rest during every waking moment of a man's life, from cradle to grave. Y.M. You have tabulated these? O.M. Many of them--yes. Y.M. Will you read me the result? O.M. Another time, yes. It would take an hour. Y.M. A conscience can be trained to shun evil and prefer good? O.M. Yes. Y.M. But will it for spirit-contenting reasons only? O.M. It CAN'T be trained to do a thing for any OTHER reason. The thing is impossible. Y.M. There MUST be a genuinely and utterly self-sacrificing act recorded in human history somewhere. |
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