“In justice to ourselves we should not permit the ingratitude of a few to make us condemn the whole world. We pay too much tribute to a few human insects when we let their wrong-doing paralyze our faith in humanity. It is a lie of the cynics that says “all men are ungrateful,” a companion lie to “all men have their price.” We must trust humanity if we would get good from humanity. He who thinks all mankind is vile is a pessimist who mistakes his introspection for observation; he looks into his own heart and thinks he sees the world. He is like a cross-eyed man, who never sees what he seems to be looking at.” ~ William George Jordan
If you let your disdain for the ingratitude of others trump your faith in the underlying goodness of humanity, you have failed in living. You will no longer see clearly and you will be certain to perpetuate the very elements that irk you. It is said that “what has your heart has you,” so to the degree that you focus your mental and emotional energies on disliking, disdaining or hating something beyond yourself, you bind yourself in subjection to that which you wish to rid yourself of.
The attempt to stamp out evil in an effort to proliferate goodness is a fool’s errand, for the end never justifies the means. You can, however, help ensure the wider expression of goodness, excellence, magnanimity and benevolence by noticing, emphasizing, encouraging, drawing forth, supplementing, complementing and complimenting the sprouts of goodness as they break through the concrete of prejudice, precedent, bad habit, that is, the mortar which holds the bricks of human nature together.
Rules, laws, regulations and the like should be the last resort not the first effort when seeking to discourage the advance of destructive elements in our homes, schools and workplaces. I am convinced that deep in the heart of every man lies a wellspring of goodness. Man is fundamentally good-natured.
Life experience can sour your outlook faster than any lemon can your palate if you are not careful to refrain from reacting to it. The wiser approach is to deal with it radiantly, to issue a call to rise up and to give the space for the positive changes to occur. Those who will rise up are relatively rare yet extremely precious resource and two aligned in truth and goodness can prevail against an army of those whose faith centers in the lowliness and baseness of man.
Gregory Hake 
There are so many positive ways to enhance the good things in people, but it seems like many times people’s first idea is to denounce the things that are wrong. If that approach worked, it would have already worked. There is no shortage of it in the world right now. There is a shortage of radiant positive encouragement of the right things. Make the focus those, and you will find that they grow while the wrong things shrink from lack of nourishment.
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Great words to consider regularly, as each day we are lead to face challenges in the world as it is. Your first sentence summed things up perfectly, following the wise words of Jordan. What timliness this post has in relation to our world and the political climate of our country. Good job!!
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Thank you for a great post
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As always, thanks for the great posts. I find points everyday to emphasize with my students. They are at a ripe age to save from cynicism!
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Young man, you make a great argument for the inherent good of human beings. This has been my favorite series so far!
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This paragraph floored me … it is awesome!! “The attempt to stamp out evil in an effort to proliferate goodness is a fool’s errand, for the end never justifies the means. You can, however, help ensure the wider expression of goodness, excellence, magnanimity and benevolence by noticing, emphasizing, encouraging, drawing forth, supplementing, complementing and complimenting the sprouts of goodness as they break through the concrete of prejudice, precedent, bad habit, that is, the mortar which holds the bricks of human nature together.”
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Well said!
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While it is folly to trust blindly in human beings as they are, it is wise and vital, in fact, to trust in whatever may be right in another. From their earlierst days, people are overlaid with unnatural and destructive and unkind edifices. And yet, genuine and beautiful qualities either shine through in spite of the overlay or can be coaxed out from beneath it by appropriate use of empathy, patience and vision.
Working effectively with the peculiar mixtures presented by those we work with is the hallmark of leadership. Investing trust in another is always a risk, and we do need to develop an eye for a good investment, but still, people will surprise us in both positive and unhappy ways. In the end, whatever proves to be right and true is the only starting point that matters.
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Likewise I believe that people are inherently optimistic, and that man by nature is an optimist, for the very life that is in us always seeks to grow and expand wherever possible. How does this body create new little bodies? How does this body heal a wound? The trip-ups occur in the way we think and how we let our feelings get the better of this natural impulse. Anywhere life can grow, it will. If something good can be allowed to grow through our hands, that has to go through the way we think and feel about it.
You make a very good point here on how to reconcile the many dysfunctions that are part of our living. Stamp out the bad to let the good remain? I can think of many instances that this doesn’t work out well, like in agriculture and the use of chemicals. Other approaches that emphasize optimal soil conditions tend to take care of the weeds and pests naturally. Funny how that works when you look to nurture the proper conditions, as this applies to every aspect of our lives and its environment.
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Excellent post. Hilarious picture!
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We have the choice of how we view our future. We will build in our lives the things we require to handle our own view of it. When we live in a defensive position we need to craft rules and structures that protect us. When we see life as a shared opportunity for harmonious creation we build things that expand our lives. When I find cynicism has crept into my heart as a result of an experience or a person I immediately challenge it. This is an important value that I contiually reaffirm by examining my thoughts. Great post thank you!
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I think of it as seeing through your heart. The lens of our lives is one of the things we can control and change. So much of it is shaped as children but then as we mature, through reading, our choices of what we think about, dwell on and expand on; over time morphs it. As adults that is an aspect of our character we can start to change the moment we realize we have developed a flawed instrument. Wonderful post Gregg, thank you.
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