APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1932, Page 1

APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS

The besetting sin of able men is impatience of contradiction and of criticism. Even those who do their best to resist the temptation, yield to it almost unconsciously and become the tools of toadies and flatterers. “Authorities’”, “disciples” and "schools” are the curse of science; and do more to interfere with the work of the scientific spirit than ah its enemies. * -X- -X- * People never will recollect, that mere learning and mere cleverness are of next to no value in life, while energy and intellectual grip, the things that are inborn and cannot be Laugh t, are everything. •X- ■sf ■X* In my opinion a man’s first duty is to find/rt way of supporting himsell, thereby relieving other people of the necessity of supporting him. -Moreover, the learning to do work of practical value in tlie world, in an exact and careful manner, is ot itself a. very important education, the clients ol which make themselves felt in • all other pursuits. The habit of doing that which you do not care about when you would much father be doing something else is invaluable.