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Self-possession—See [Common Sense]; [Nerve].
Self-realization—See [Myself].
SELF-RELIANCE
Beecher said that once, at school, when he was demonstrating a problem in geometry, the master said, “No,” in a tone of absolute conviction, and he sat down in great confusion and dismay. The next boy was stopt with the same emphatic “No”; but the boy went right on, and completed the demonstration. Beecher said to the master, “I recited just as he did, and you said ‘No.’” The master replied, “Why didn’t you say ‘Yes,’ and stick to it? It is not enough to know your lesson, you must know that you know it.” You have learned nothing until you are sure. If all the world says “No,” your business is to say “Yes,” and persist in it.—James T. White, “Character Lessons.”
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Imitate the Flathead Indians, and fling the child into the stream and make him swim. If Flathead Indians do this, straight-browed white men should know enough to imitate them. Bring your children up to believe that God cares for them, but that they must be self-reliant, and care for themselves. The fishes’ fin fits the water, the birds’ wing the air, the eye fits the sunbeam, the ear matches music, the intellect fits the truth and man’s equipment for self-support fits the harvests, the fields and the forests.—N. D. Hillis.
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See [Education]; [Initiative].