But the men who thus complain are not men who have filled this
little stage with their action. The man who has learned to serve the
Lord never complains that his Master does not give him enough to do.
The man who helps his fellow-men does not stand about with idle hands
to find men worthy of his assistance. He who leads a worthy life never
vexes himself with the question as to whether life is worth living.
We know that all our powers are products of the needs and duties of our
ancestors. Wisdom too great to be translated into action is an
absurdity. For wisdom is only knowing what it is best to do next.
Virtue is only doing it. Virtue and happiness have never been far
apart from each other. To know and to do is the essence of the highest
service. Those the world has a right to honor are those who found
enough in the world to do. The fields are always white to their
harvest.
Alexander the Great had conquered his neighbors in Greece and Asia
Minor, the only world he knew. Then he sighed for more worlds to
conquer. But other worlds he knew nothing of lay all about him. The
secrets of the rocks he had never suspected. Steam, electricity, the
growth of trees, the fall of snow,--all these were mysteries to him.
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