FOOLS think themselves great, in proportion to the show they can make; but it would take a great heap of copper coins to make as much value as a very little piece of gold; and an empty tin kettle will make more sound than a golden vessel filled with the choicest delicacies.
When Mr. Jefferson was President of the United States, he was passing a stream on horseback, in Virginia. A beggar approaching it at the same time, asked him to help him over. The President let him get behind him on the horse and ride over. When they had got over, the beggar discovered that he had left his bundle; and Mr. Jefferson went back again and brought it over. This was true greatness. A man can never be too great to do a kindness to the humblest individual in the world.
True Greatness lies not in being too proud to wait on one’s self.
Chief Justice Marshall was in the habit of going to market himself, and carrying home his purchases. Frequently he would be seen returning at sunrise, with poultry in one hand and vegetables in the other. On one of these occasions, a fashionable young man from the North, who had removed to Richmond, was swearing violently because he could find no one to carry home his turkey. Marshall stepped up, and asking him where he lived, said “That is my way, and I will take it for you.” When they came to his house, the young man inquired, “What shall I pay you?” “O, nothing,” said the Chief Justice, “you are welcome, it was on my way, and no trouble.” “Who is that polite old gentleman, who brought home my turkey for me?” inquired the young man of a by-stander. “That,” replied he, “is John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States.” “Why did he bring home my turkey?” “To give you a severe reprimand, and teach you to attend to your own business,” was the reply. True greatness never feels above doing any thing that is useful; but especially, the truly great man will never feel above helping himself. His own independence of character depends on his being able to help himself. Dr. Franklin, when he first established himself in business, in Philadelphia, wheeled home the paper which he purchased for his printing office, upon a wheel-barrow, with his own hands.
True Greatness does not make a man difficult about his own accommodations.
At a time when the court was sitting in Buffalo, N. Y., and all the public houses were full, there came to the principal hotel a starched up little Frenchman, and called for lodgings. He was shown into a small, but well-furnished room, which was the only one in the house that was vacant. He thought himself insulted; and with much warmth said, “Me gem’man—me no sleep here!” A little while afterwards Chancellor Kent, the highest judicial officer in the state, called for lodgings. The landlord told him he was full, excepting one little room, which he did not like to offer to such a man as he. But the Chancellor wished to see it; and on being shown into it, said, “O, this will do very well—it is a fine room.” Which do you think was the greater of these two men? A small mind makes much ado about little things.
True Greatness does not consist in being in the fashion.
When Dr. Franklin was received at the French Court as American Minister, he felt some scruples of conscience about complying with their fashions of dress. “He hoped,” he said to the Minister, “that as he was a very plain man, and represented a plain republican people, the king would indulge his desire to appear in the court in his usual dress. Independent of this, the season of the year,” said he, “renders the change from yarn stockings to fine silk somewhat dangerous.” The French Minister made him a bow, but said that fashion was too sacred a thing for him to meddle with, but he would do him the honor to mention it to his majesty. The king smiled and returned word that Dr. Franklin was at liberty to appear at court in any dress that he pleased. In spite of that delicate respect for foreigners for which the French are so remarkable, the courtiers could not help staring at first at Dr. Franklin’s Quaker dress. But it soon appeared as though he had been introduced upon this splendid theatre only to demonstrate that great genius, like beauty, “needs not the aid of ornament.”