These elements should be well
balanced. The delicacy of equilibrium is what makes the perfect man, or,
rather, the honorable man. Too much avarice makes a contemptibly mean
man; not enough makes a foolish spendthrift, who is always appealing to
his friends for help. Too much bravery in man makes a bully; not enough
a coward. Too much speech in man makes a bore; not enough a "stick." Too
much hope in man makes a speculator and a gambler; not enough, a hermit
and a man-hater. So of ambition. It is a flame to be guarded--a willing
slave, an unpitying master. In its full sway it is the very essence of
self-conceit and selfishness,--two traits, a little of which goes a
good way. You know that you do not put much blueing into a washtub full
of water. Well, use ambition in the same sparing way. If you spill it in
using it, you will have a difficult affair on your hands. It may be just
possible, of course, that you have clothes to wash, so to speak, which
require the whole box or bottle. If so, your chance of happiness is not
great.
"HE WHO SURPASSES OR SUBDUES MANKIND,"
says Byron, "must look down on the hate of those below.
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