Wednesday's Word: Be True To Yourself

 "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."
-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Women's Club Meeting

(Circa. 1924)

Image courtesy/eBay

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; then these women
who differed 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 tiresome reiteration of the same idea.

I know those 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 much the same everywhere, I do not think
that this spirit is shown in our 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,
but 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 that there is a moral as well as
a physical cowardice, and that it is just as contemptible.

I am sure moral cowardice is responsible for a great deal of the
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
just 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 a 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 our honest convictions.  But-

"This above all, to thine own self be true
And it will follow as night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
"Hamlet, I, iii"
William Shakespeare

Laura Ingalls Wilder

(1867-1957)

Prolific American writer

and original Pioneer girl

Author of the "Little House" series of books
Painting by Granger
(2016)
Courtesy Fine Art America

"Be True To Yourself"
( July 1923)
Taken from the book,
Little House In The Ozarks
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler
The Rediscovered Writings
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Edited by Stephen W. Hines
Guideposts Edition
(1991)