One day in the middle of an important examination in high school the point of my lead pencil broke. In those days we used pocket knives to sharpen our pencils. I had forgotten my penknife and turned to ask a neighbor for his. The teacher saw this; he accused me of cheating. When I tried to explain he gave me a tongue-lashing for lying; worse he forbade me to play on the basketball team in the upcoming game. I could see that the more I protested the angrier he seemed to become. But again and again I stubbornly told what had happened. Even when the coach pleaded my cause the teacher refused to budge. The disgrace was almost more than I could bear. Then just minutes before the game he had a change of heart and I was permitted to play. But there was no joy in it. We lost the game; and though that hurt by far the deeper pain was being branded a cheat and a liar. Looking back. I know that lesson was God-sent. Character is shaped in just such crucibles. My parents believed me: they were understanding and encouraging. Supported by them and a clear conscience I began to realize that when you are at peace with your Maker you can if not ignore human criticism at least rise above it. And I learned something else – the importance of avoiding even the appearance of evil. Though I was innocent circumstance made me look guilty. Since this could so easily be true in many of lifes situations I made a resolution to keep even the appearance of my actions above question as far as possible. And it struck me too that if this injustice happened to me it could happen to others and I must not judge their actions simply on appearances.
Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad and Ill show you a guy you can beat every time.
All that glisters is not gold Often have you heard that told.
How little do they see what really is who frame their hasty judgments upon that which seems.
There is less in this than meets the eye.
One day in the middle of an important examination in high school the point of my lead pencil broke. In those days we used pocket knives to sharpen our pencils. I had forgotten my penknife and turned to ask a neighbor for his. The teacher saw this; he accused me of cheating. When I tried to explain he gave me a tongue-lashing for lying; worse he forbade me to play on the basketball team in the upcoming game. I could see that the more I protested the angrier he seemed to become. But again and again I stubbornly told what had happened. Even when the coach pleaded my cause the teacher refused to budge. The disgrace was almost more than I could bear. Then just minutes before the game he had a change of heart and I was permitted to play. But there was no joy in it. We lost the game; and though that hurt by far the deeper pain was being branded a cheat and a liar. Looking back. I know that lesson was God-sent. Character is shaped in just such crucibles. My parents believed me: they were understanding and encouraging. Supported by them and a clear conscience I began to realize that when you are at peace with your Maker you can if not ignore human criticism at least rise above it. And I learned something else – the importance of avoiding even the appearance of evil. Though I was innocent circumstance made me look guilty. Since this could so easily be true in many of lifes situations I made a resolution to keep even the appearance of my actions above question as far as possible. And it struck me too that if this injustice happened to me it could happen to others and I must not judge their actions simply on appearances.
Outside among your fellows among strangers you must preserve appearances a hundred things you cannot do but inside the terrible freedom!
The appearances of things are deceptive. Fallaces sunt rerum species
The world is governed more by appearances than by realities so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.
The world is governed more by appearance than realities so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.
If the beard were all goats could preach.