“Let us,” I said, “say money, opportunity, friends, good advice, and personal popularity for early advantages.”
“The first isn’t necessary,” said the jurist, leisurely adjusting his hands in his pockets. “Opportunity comes to everyone, but all have not a mind to see; friends you can do without for a time; good advice we take too late, and popularity usually comes too early or too tardy to be appreciated. Define success.”
WHAT SUCCESS MEANS.
“I might mention fame, position, income, as examples of what the world deems success.”
“Foolish world!” said Mr. Choate. “The most successful men sometimes have not one of all these. All I can say is that early advantages won’t bring a man a knowledge of the law, nor enable him to convince a jury. What he needs is years of close application, the ability to stick until he has mastered the necessary knowledge.”
“Where did you obtain your wide knowledge of the law?” I asked.
“Reading at home and fighting in the courts,—principally fighting in the courts.”
“And was there any good luck about obtaining your first case? Was it secured by special effort?”
THE GOOD LUCK OF BEING PREPARED.
“None, unless it was the good luck of having a sign out, large enough for people to see. The rest of it was hard work, getting the evidence and the law fixed in my mind.