Page:Early Reminiscences.djvu/99

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1843
71

every effort to give force to these flabby characters, in a word to give character to such as are by nature characterless.

It is one thing to seek advice, it is quite another thing to submit to direction. He who accepts advice weighs it, and follows or rejects it by the power of his will; he is self-determinative. But he who subjects himself to direction renders himself a mere slave, and loses what little will of his own he did possess; he puts an extinguisher over the slight flame of individuality that was about to start up. The pig has strong objection to be driven to the market or the shambles to be converted into smoked hams, rashers of bacon and sausages.

The sheep, on the other hand, is submissive to the will of the pastor, and trots on bleating, whither he points, to green pastures and living waters, or to the slaughter-house. It trusts its shepherd in a nerveless unresisting subjection.

I confess that I admire the pig rather than the sheep.