The Crown of Individuality

142 pages. ChapterI. 5THE CROWN OF INDIVIDUALITYII. 15NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INNIII. 22FACING THE MISTAKES OF LIFE IV. 31THE SCULPTURED FIGURES OF SOCIETYV. 39THE HUNGERS OF LIFEVI. 47 THROWING AWAY OUR HAPPINESSVII. 55AT THE TURN OF THE ROADVIII. 61SITTING IN THE SEAT OF JUDGMENTIX. 69THE INSPIRATION OF POSSIBILITIESX. 76FORGETTING AS A FINE ARTXI. 84The Victoria Cross of HappinessXII. 93The Crimes of RespectabilityXIII. 101Optimism that Really CountsXIV. 109The Power of Individual PurposeXV. 116When We Forget the EquityXVI. 125Running Away from LifeXVII. 132The Dark Valley of ProsperityIThe Crown of IndividualityTHE supreme courage of life is the courage of the soul. It is living, day by day, sincerely, steadfastly, serenely, -despite all opinions, all obstacles, all opposition. It means the wine of inspiration for ourselves and others that comes from the crushed grapes of our sorrows. This courage makes the simplest life, great; it makes the greatest life-sublime. It means the royal dignity of fine individual living. Every man reigns a king over the kingdom of-self. He wears the crown of individuality that no hands but his own can ever remove. He should not only reign, but-rule. His individuality is his true self, his best self, his highest self, his self victorious. His thoughts, his words, his acts, his feelings, his aims and his powers are his-subjects. With gentle, firm strength he must command them or, they will finally take from his feeble fingers the reins of government and rule in his stead. Man must first be true to himself or he will be false to all the world. Man reigns over this miniature kingdom of self-alone. He is as much an autocrat as is God in ruling the universe. No one can make him good or evil but he, himself. No one else in all the world has his work or his influence. Each of us can carry a balm of joy, and strength, and light, and love to some hearts that will respond to no other. Each can add the last bitter drop in the cup of life to someone dependent on us through love or friendship. No other in all the world can live our life, loyally fulfill our duties, or wear the crown of our individuality. It is a wondrous joy and inspiration to us if we see this in its true light, for never again would we ask: "What use am I in the world?"