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Show I For Meditation f g oooooo S By LEONARD A. BARRETT WHY MEN FAIL WHEN we speak of failure we think of the collapse of business organizations, the stork market or an individual who has been beaten In the fierce competition of modern life. We think of a moral failure as the result of disobedience of fixed standards which we have inherited and upon which the superstructure of our civilization civ-ilization safely rests. In all such failures fail-ures some definite action was necessary neces-sary In order to bring about the result. Business organlza-pS'ip organlza-pS'ip 'Ins fall because i ix'i of over produc- k:'v$ tiou nnd nn ,nalj11" : - V- , ity to meet compe te " w , tltlon. Moral fall- WS$-&w 11,9 lack of sc,f rXV' J control. Thus fall- mmPiM "rs ,s nsually ;'imf thought of as the IW-'kM result of definite ac,lon- l&f&Q All failure, how-ever how-ever Is not posi-flFJ posi-flFJ tlve ,n character, fe2($.M Failure may be i due to a negative L. A. Barrett. ratner than a positive posi-tive attitude of mind. It may have been better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. Many persons, however, do not even try. They will not make the plunge. They refuse to take the risk. Lacking self-confidence, their attitude Is largely negative nega-tive with no definite results ou the credit side of their life's record. We somehow admire the man who has made a heroic effort even though he may not have succeeded; but, we do not like to see the absence of effort In the struggle of the world's work. Failure, because one has not made the effort. Is more lamentable. than a battle lost, but heroically fought 1 Men fail to attain, negatively, for two reasons. They do not venture because they refuse to assert self-confidence self-confidence and self-reliance. They wrap up their talent In a napkin because be-cause tbey are afraid they will lose It. They will not struggle because they fear they will not have the strength to win. The second reason why men full Is greed. Shylock demanded de-manded the pound of flesh but he got nothing. Greed always kills. In the very na-' ture of the case It must bring failure. Greed does not Inspire confidence and trust without which no success Is possible. pos-sible. Think of the men you base known who have failed. How many of these could attribute their failures to either fear or greed or both? (ui. 1923. Western Ncwupapcr Unloa.) |