Be True To Yourself

At a gathering of women the other day, a subject came up for discussion

on which I knew the opinions held by several present, as they had expressed

them to me privately. It happened that a woman who held the opposite opinion

to theirs led off in the talk and a number followed her lead; these women who

differed fell in with what they thought was the popular side and by a few

words let it be understood that they were in accord with the opinion stated,

and so what might have been an interesting and profitable discussion

became merely a reiteration of the same idea.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

(1867-1957)

I knew these women had been false to themselves, but I was not surprised,

for I have been observing along that line recently and have seen so much 

of the same thing. As people are pretty much the same everywhere, I do not

think that this spirit is shown in one community alone.

For fear of giving offense, many persons agree to anything that is proposed

when they have no intention of doing it and will find an excuse later.

They join in with what they think is popular opinion until it is almost

impossible to tell where anyone stands on any subject or to do anything,

because one cannot tell upon whom to depend. This disposition is found

everywhere, from social affairs to the man who agrees to come and work.

Have you not found it so? Of course, it is easier, for a time, to go with

the current; but how much more can be accomplished if we would all be 

honest in our talk. And how much wasted effort would be saved!

We all despise a coward, but we sometimes forget there is a moral as

well as a physical cowardice, and that it is just as contemptible.

I am sure that moral cowardice is responsible for a great deal of trouble

and confusion in the world.  It gives unprincipled persons an opportunity to

"put things over" that they would not have if others had the courage of

their convictions. Besides, it is weakness to one's personality and moral

fiber to deny one's opinions or falsify one's self, while it throws broadcast

into the world that much more cowardice and untruth.

We all know who is the father of lies, and a lie can be acted as well 

as spoken, while an untruth is often expressed by silence. It is not necessary

to be unpleasant if we disagree; an opinion supported by good reason,

kindly stated, should not offend, neither should a pleasant refusal to join in

anything proposed. We may be friendly and courteous and still hold

frankly to honest convictions. But-

"This above all, to thine own self be true

And it will follow as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man."

From "Hamlet"

By William Shakespeare

Laura's writing desk in the house on Rocky Ridge Farm

Mansfield, Missouri

"Be True To Yourself"

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

From the book, 

Little House In The Ozarks

A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler

The Rediscovered Writings

Edited by Stephen W. Hines

 Guideposts Edition

(1991)