p. 10 | SELF-RELIANCE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1896

SELF-RELIANCE

HENRY WARD BEECHER used to tell this story of the way in which his teacher of mathematics taught him to depend upon himself:—

“I was sent to the blackboard, and went, uncertain, full of whimpering.

“‘That lesson must be learned,’ said my teacher, in a very quiet tone, but with a terrible intensity. All explanations and excuses he trod underfoot with utter scornfulness. ‘I want that problem; I don’t want any reasons why you haven’t it,’ he would say.

“‘I did study two hours.’

“‘“That’s nothing to me; I want the lesson. You need not study it at all, or you may study it ten hours, just to suit yourself. I want the lesson.’

“‘It was tough for a green boy; but it seasoned me. In less than a month I had the most intense sense of intellectual independence and courage to defend my recitations.

“‘One day his cold, calm voice fell upon me in the midst of a demonstration, ‘No!’

“‘I hesitated, and then went back to the beginning, and on reaching the same point again, ‘No!’ uttered with the tone of conviction, barred my progress.

“‘“The next!’ and I sat down in red confusion.

“‘“He, too, was stopped with ‘No!’ but went right on, finished, and, as he sat down, was rewarded with, ‘Very well.’

“‘“Why,’ whimpered I, ‘I recited it just as he did, and you said, “No.”’

“‘“Why didn’t you say, “Yes,” and stick to it? It is not enough to know your lesson; you must know that you know it. You have learned nothing till you are sure. If all the world says, “No,” your business is to say, “Yes,” and prove it.’”—Selected.