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egard this babble and chattering of other men better and worse than we are； and to walk straight before us by what light we have。 They may be right； but so； before heaven； are we。 They may know； but we know also； and by that knowledge we must stand or fall。 There is such a thing as loyalty to a man's own better self； and from those who have not that； God help me； how am I to look for loyalty to others？ The most dull； the most imbecile； at a certain moment turn round； at a certain point will hear no further argument； but stand unflinching by their own dumb； irrational sense of right。 It is not only by steel or fire； but through contempt and blame； that the martyr fulfils the calling of his dear soul。 Be glad if you are not tried by such extremities。 But although all the world ranged themselves in one line to tell you 'This is wrong；' be you your own faithful vassal and the ambassador of God … throw down the glove and answer 'This is right。' Do you think you are only declaring yourself？ Perhaps in some dim way； like a child who delivers a message not fully understood； you are opening wider the straits of prejudice and preparing mankind for some truer and more spiritual grasp of truth； perhaps； as you stand forth for your own judgment； you are covering a thousand weak ones with your body； perhaps； by this declaration alone； you have avoided the guilt of false witness against humanity and the little ones unborn。 It is good； I believe； to be respectable； but much nobler to respect oneself and utter the voice of God。 God； if there be any God； speaks daily in a new language by the tongues of men； the thoughts and habits of each fresh generation and each new…coined spirit throw another light upon the universe and contain another commentary on the printed Bibles； every scruple； every true dissent； every glimpse of something new； is a letter of God's alphabet； and though there is a grave responsibility for all who speak； is there none for those who unrighteously keep silence and conform？ Is not that also to conceal and cloak God's counsel？ And how should we regard the man of science who suppressed all facts that would not tally with the orthodoxy of the hour？
Wrong？ You are as surely wrong as the sun rose this morning round the revolving shoulder of the world。 Not truth； but truthfulness； is the good of your endeavour。 For when will men receive that first part and prerequisite of truth； that； by the order of things； by the greatness of the universe； by the darkness and partiality of man's experience； by the inviolate secrecy of God； kept close in His most open revelations； every man is； and to the end of the ages must be； wrong？ Wrong to the universe； wrong to mankind； wrong to God。 And yet in another sense； and that plainer and nearer； every man of men； who wishes truly； must be right。 He is right to himself； and in the measure of his sagacity and candour。 That let him do in all sincerity and zeal； not sparing a thought for contrary opinions； that； for what it is worth； let him proclaim。 Be not afraid； although he be wrong； so also is the dead； stuffed Dagon he insults。 For the voice of God； whatever it is； is not that stammering； inept tradition which the people holds。 These truths survive in travesty； swamped in a world of spiritual darkness and confusion； and what a few comprehend and faithfully hold； the many； in their dead jargon； repeat； degrade； and misinterpret。
So far of Respectability； what the Covenanters used to call 'rank conformity'： the deadliest gag and wet blanket that can be laid on men。 And now of Profit。 And this doctrine is perhaps the more redoubtable； because it harms all sorts of men； not only the heroic and self…reliant； but the obedient； cowlike squadrons。 A man； by this doctrine； looks to consequences at the second； or third； or fiftieth turn。 He chooses his end； and for that； with wily turns and through a great sea of tedium； steers this mortal bark。 There may be political wisdom in such a view； but I am persuaded there can spring no great moral zeal。 To look thus obliquely upon life is the very recipe for moral slumber。 Our intention and endeavour should be directed； not on some vague end of money or applause； which shall come to us by a ricochet in a month or a year； or twenty years； but on the act itself； not on the approval of others； but on the rightness of that act。 At every instant； at every step in life； the point has to be decided； our soul has to be saved； heaven has to be gained or lost。 At every step our spirits must applaud； at every step we must set down the foot and sound the trumpet。 'This have I done；' we must say； 'right or wrong； this have I done； in unfeigned honour of intention； as to myself and God。' The profit of every act should be this； that it was right for us to do it。 Any other profit than that； if it involved a kingdom or the woman I love； ought； if I were God's upright soldier； to leave me untempted。
It is the mark of what we call a righteous decision； that it is made directly and for its own sake。 The whole man； mind and body； having come to an agreement； tyrannically dictates conduct。 There are two dispositions eternally opposed： that in which we recognise that one thing is wrong and another right； and that in which； not seeing any clear distinction； we fall back on the consideration of consequences。 The truth is； by the scope of our present teaching； nothing is thought very wrong and nothing very right； except a few actions which have the disadvantage of being disrespectable when found out； the more serious part of men inclining to think all things RATHER WRONG； the more jovial to suppose them RIGHT ENOUGH FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES。 I will engage my head； they do not find that view in their own hearts； they have taken it up in a dark despair； they are but troubled sleepers talking in their sleep。 The soul； or my soul at least； thinks very distinctly upon many points of right and wrong； and often differs flatly with what is held out as the thought of corporate humanity in the code of society or the code of law。 Am I to suppose myself a monster？ I have only to read books； the Christian Gospels for example； to think myself a monster no longer； and instead I think the mass of people are merely speaking in their sleep。
It is a commonplace； enshrined； if I mistake not； even in school copy…books； that honour is to be sought and not fame。 I ask no other admission； we are to seek honour； upright walking with our own conscience every hour of the day； and not fame； the consequence； the far…off reverberation of our footsteps。 The walk； not the rumour of the walk； is what concerns righteousness。 Better disrespectable honour than dishonourable fame。 Better useless or seemingly hurtful honour； than dishonour ruling empires and filling the mouths of thousands。 For the man must walk by what he sees； and leave the issue with God who made him and taught him by the fortune of his life。 You would not dishonour yourself for money； which is at least tangible； would you do it； then； for a doubtful forecast in politics； or another p