REALIZING ONE’S OWN SHORTCOMINGS

Realizing One’s Own Shortcomings ~ 308 ~ are many shades of grey between black and white, so are there many gradations of good and evil in ordinary human beings. While few are saints, few also are the out-and-out villains of this life, and many are the combinations of different qualities and defects than one can find in any given individual. It is no simple matter to label a person wholly good or wholly bad. If there is to be harmony within a community, the bad sides of its members must be tolerated, while their good sides are appreciated. In this way, no talent is lost to society, and fellow-feeling will prevail. This is a principle that should be remembered in all life’ s relationships. Man and wife, employer and employee, businessman and partner—all need to keep it in mind. If we want to pluck “flowers,” we have also to bear the “thorns” that come with them. There is no way that one who cannot put up with thorns will be able to possess the flowers of this life. There are few great tasks which can be accomplished by individuals single-handedly. Only the talents of several individuals combined can achieve any substantial work. Just as this is true in commercial and political spheres, so is it true of