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hundred Howards to us； if their philanthropy do not help us in our
best estate； when we are most worthy to be helped？ I never heard of
a philanthropic meeting in which it was sincerely proposed to do any
good to me； or the like of me。
The Jesuits were quite balked by those Indians who； being burned
at the stake； suggested new modes of torture to their tormentors。
Being superior to physical suffering； it sometimes chanced that they
were superior to any consolation which the missionaries could offer；
and the law to do as you would be done by fell with less
persuasiveness on the ears of those who； for their part； did not
care how they were done by； who loved their enemies after a new
fashion； and came very near freely forgiving them all they did。
Be sure that you give the poor the aid they most need； though it
be your example which leaves them far behind。 If you give money；
spend yourself with it； and do not merely abandon it to them。 We
make curious mistakes sometimes。 Often the poor man is not so cold
and hungry as he is dirty and ragged and gross。 It is partly his
taste； and not merely his misfortune。 If you give him money； he
will perhaps buy more rags with it。 I was wont to pity the clumsy
Irish laborers who cut ice on the pond； in such mean and ragged
clothes； while I shivered in my more tidy and somewhat more
fashionable garments； till； one bitter cold day； one who had slipped
into the water came to my house to warm him； and I saw him strip off
three pairs of pants and two pairs of stockings ere he got down to
the skin； though they were dirty and ragged enough； it is true； and
that he could afford to refuse the extra garments which I offered
him； he had so many intra ones。 This ducking was the very thing he
needed。 Then I began to pity myself； and I saw that it would be a
greater charity to bestow on me a flannel shirt than a whole
slop…shop on him。 There are a thousand hacking at the branches of
evil to one who is striking at the root； and it may be that he who
bestows the largest amount of time and money on the needy is doing
the most by his mode of life to produce that misery which he strives
in vain to relieve。 It is the pious slave…breeder devoting the
proceeds of every tenth slave to buy a Sunday's liberty for the
rest。 Some show their kindness to the poor by employing them in
their kitchens。 Would they not be kinder if they employed
themselves there？ You boast of spending a tenth part of your income
in charity； maybe you should spend the nine tenths so； and done with
it。 Society recovers only a tenth part of the property then。 Is
this owing to the generosity of him in whose possession it is found；
or to the remissness of the officers of justice？
Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently
appreciated by mankind。 Nay； it is greatly overrated； and it is our
selfishness which overrates it。 A robust poor man； one sunny day
here in Concord； praised a fellow…townsman to me； because； as he
said； he was kind to the poor； meaning himself。 The kind uncles and
aunts of the race are more esteemed than its true spiritual fathers
and mothers。 I once heard a reverend lecturer on England； a man of
learning and intelligence； after enumerating her scientific；
literary； and political worthies； Shakespeare； Bacon； Cromwell；
Milton； Newton； and others； speak next of her Christian heroes；
whom； as if his profession required it of him； he elevated to a
place far above all the rest； as the greatest of the great。 They
were Penn； Howard； and Mrs。 Fry。 Every one must feel the falsehood
and cant of this。 The last were not England's best men and women；
only； perhaps； her best philanthropists。
I would not subtract anything from the praise that is due to
philanthropy； but merely demand justice for all who by their lives
and works are a blessing to mankind。 I do not value chiefly a man's
uprightness and benevolence； which are； as it were； his stem and
leaves。 Those plants of whose greenness withered we make herb tea
for the sick serve but a humble use； and are most employed by
quacks。 I want the flower and fruit of a man； that some fragrance
be wafted over from him to me； and some ripeness flavor our
intercourse。 His goodness must not be a partial and transitory act；
but a constant superfluity； which costs him nothing and of which he
is unconscious。 This is a charity that hides a multitude of sins。
The philanthropist too often surrounds mankind with the remembrance
of his own castoff griefs as an atmosphere； and calls it sympathy。
We should impart our courage； and not our despair； our health and
ease； and not our disease； and take care that this does not spread
by contagion。 From what southern plains comes up the voice of
wailing？ Under what latitudes reside the heathen to whom we would
send light？ Who is that intemperate and brutal man whom we would
redeem？ If anything ail a man； so that he does not perform his
functions； if he have a pain in his bowels even for that is the
seat of sympathy he forthwith sets about reforming the world。
Being a microcosm himself； he discovers and it is a true
discovery； and he is the man to make it that the world has been
eating green apples； to his eyes； in fact； the globe itself is a
great green apple； which there is danger awful to think of that the
children of men will nibble before it is ripe； and straightway his
drastic philanthropy seeks out the Esquimau and the Patagonian； and
embraces the populous Indian and Chinese villages； and thus； by a
few years of philanthropic activity； the powers in the meanwhile
using him for their own ends； no doubt； he cures himself of his
dyspepsia； the globe acquires a faint blush on one or both of its
cheeks； as if it were beginning to be ripe； and life loses its
crudity and is once more sweet and wholesome to live。 I never
dreamed of any enormity greater than I have committed。 I never
knew； and never shall know； a worse man than myself。
I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy
with his fellows in distress； but； though he be the holiest son of
God； is his private ail。 Let this be righted； let the spring come
to him； the morning rise over his couch； and he will forsake his
generous companions without apology。 My excuse for not lecturing
against the use of tobacco is； that I never chewed it； that is a
penalty which reformed tobacco…chewers have to pay； though there are
things enough I have chewed which I could lecture against。 If you
should ever be betrayed into any of these philanthropies； do not let
your left hand know what your right hand does； for it is not worth
knowing。 Rescue the drowning and tie your shoestrings。 Take your
time； and set about some free labor。
Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the
saints。 Our hymn…books resound with a melodious cursing of God and
enduring Him forever。 One would say that even the prophets and
redeemers had rather consoled the fears than confirmed the hopes of
man。 There is nowhere recorded a simple and irrepressible
satisfaction with the gift of life； any memorable praise of God。
All health and success does me good； however far off and withdrawn
it may appear； all disease and failure helps to make me sad and does
me evil； however much sympathy it may have with me or I with it。
If； then； we would indeed restore mankind by truly Indian； botanic；
magnetic； or natural means； let us first be as simple and well as
Nature ourselves； dispel the clouds which hang over our own brows；
and take up a little life into our pores。 Do not stay to be an
overseer of the poor； but endeavor to become one of the worthies of
the world。
I read in the Gulistan； or Flower Garden； of Sheik Sadi of
Shiraz； that 〃they asked a wise man； saying： Of the many celebrated
trees which the Most High God has created lofty and umbrageous； they
call none azad； or free； excepting the cypress； which bears no
fruit； what mystery is there in this？ He replied； Each has its
appropriate produce； and appointed season； during the continuance of
which it is fresh and blooming； and during their absence dry and
withered； to neither of which states is the cypress exposed； being
always flourishing； and of this nature are the azads； or religious
independents。 Fix not thy heart on that which is transitory； for
the Dijlah； or Tigris； will continue to flow through Bagdad after
the race of caliphs is extinct： if thy hand has plenty； be liberal
as the date tree； but if it affords nothing to give away； be an
azad； or free man； like the cypress。〃
COMPLEMENTAL VERSES
The Pretensions of Poverty
Thou dost presume too much； poor needy wretch；
To claim a station in the firmament
Because thy humble cottage； or thy tub；
Nurses some lazy or pedantic virtue
In the cheap sunshin