Wanted: A Man

All the world cries, Where is the man who will save us? We want a man! Don't look so far for this man. You have him at hand. This man,—it is you, it is I, it is each one of us!… How to constitute one's self a man? Nothing harder, if one knows not how to will it; nothing easier, if one wills it.—ALEXANDRE DUMAS.

The whole world cries, “Where is the man who will save us? We want a man!” Don't look so far for him. He is right here. This man is you, me, each one of us!… How do you make yourself a man? Nothing is harder if you don't know how to will it. Nothing is easier if you will it. ALEXANDRE DUMAS.

Diogenes sought with a lantern at noontide in ancient Athens for a perfectly honest man, and sought in vain. In the market place he once cried aloud, "Hear me, O men"; and, when a crowd collected around him, he said scornfully: "I called for men, not pygmies."

In ancient Athens, Diogenes searched at noon with a lantern for a perfectly honest man. He found none. Once, in the marketplace, he called out, "Hear me, men!" When a crowd gathered around him, he said scornfully, "I called for men, not pygmies."

Over the door of every profession, every occupation, every calling, the world has a standing advertisement: "Wanted—A Man."

Over the door of every profession, occupation, and calling, the world has a permanent sign: "Wanted: A Man."

Wanted, a man who will not lose his individuality in a crowd, a man who has the courage of his convictions, who is not afraid to say "No," though all the world say "Yes."

Wanted: a man who will not lose his individuality in a crowd. A man who has the courage to stand by his beliefs and is not afraid to say "No," though all the world says "Yes."

Wanted, a man who, though he is dominated by a mighty purpose, will not permit one great faculty to dwarf, cripple, warp, or mutilate his manhood; who will not allow the over-development of one faculty to stunt or paralyze his other faculties.

Wanted: a man driven by a powerful purpose, but who will not let one great ability diminish or distort his character. He will not let one ability become so developed that it stunts or paralyzes his other abilities.

Wanted, a man who is larger than his calling, who considers it a low estimate of his occupation to value it merely as a means of getting a living. Wanted, a man who sees self-development, education and culture, discipline and drill, character and manhood, in his occupation.

Wanted: a man who is bigger than his job. He believes it is beneath his work to value it only as a way to earn a living. Wanted: a man who sees his work as a chance to develop himself, gain education and culture, practice discipline and training, and build character and manhood.

A thousand pulpits vacant in a single religious denomination, a thousand preachers standing idle in the market place, while a thousand church committees scour the land for men to fill those same vacant pulpits, and scour in vain, is a sufficient indication, in one direction at least, of the largeness of the opportunities of the age, and also of the crying need of good men.

In a single religious denomination, a thousand pulpits stand vacant while a thousand preachers stand idle in the marketplace. Meanwhile, a thousand church committees search the country in vain for men to fill those same pulpits. This shows, in at least one area, how great the opportunities of the age are. It also shows the urgent need for good men.

Wanted, a man of courage who is not a coward in any part of his nature.

Wanted: a courageous man who is not a coward in any part of his nature.

Wanted, a man who is well balanced, who is not cursed with some little defect of weakness which cripples his usefulness and neutralizes his powers.

Wanted: a well-balanced man, free from some small weakness that limits his usefulness and cancels out his strengths.

Wanted, a man who is symmetrical, and not one-sided in his development, who has not sent all the energies of his being into one narrow specialty and allowed all the other branches of his life to wither and die. Wanted, a man who is broad, who does not take half views of things; a man who mixes common sense with his theories, who does not let a college education spoil him for practical, every-day life; a man who prefers substance to show, and one who regards his good name as a priceless treasure.

Wanted: a man who is well-rounded, not one-sided in his development. He has not put all his energy into one narrow specialty while letting every other part of his life wither and die. Wanted: a man with a broad outlook, who does not see only one side of things. He mixes common sense with his theories and does not let a college education make him unfit for practical, everyday life. He prefers substance to show and regards his good name as a priceless treasure.

Wanted, a man "who, no stunted ascetic, is full of life and fire, but whose passions are trained to heed a strong will, the servant of a tender conscience; who has learned to love all beauty, whether of nature or of art, to hate all vileness, and to respect others as himself."

Wanted, a man "who is full of life and fire, not a stunted ascetic. His passions obey a strong will, which serves a sensitive conscience. He has learned to love all beauty, whether in nature or art, to hate all that is vile, and to respect others as he respects himself."

The world wants a man who is educated all over; whose nerves are brought to their acutest sensibility; whose brain is cultured, keen, incisive, broad; whose hands are deft; whose eyes are alert, sensitive, microscopic; whose heart is tender, magnanimous, true.

The world wants a man who is well educated in every way. His nerves must be as sensitive as possible. His mind must be cultivated, sharp, incisive, and broad. His hands must be skillful. His eyes must be alert, sensitive, and able to see the smallest details. His heart must be tender, generous, and true.

The whole world is looking for such a man. Although there are millions out of employment, yet it is almost impossible to find just the right man in almost any department of life, and yet everywhere we see the advertisement: "Wanted—A Man."

The whole world is looking for such a man. Although millions are unemployed, it is almost impossible to find the right man in almost any field. Yet everywhere we see the advertisement: "Wanted: A Man."

Rousseau, in his celebrated essay on education, says; "According to the order of nature, men being equal, their common vocation is the profession of humanity; and whoever is well educated to discharge the duty of a man can not be badly prepared to fill any of those offices that have a relation to him. It matters little to me whether my pupil be designed for the army, the pulpit, or the bar. Nature has destined us to the offices of human life antecedent to our destination concerning society. To live is the profession I would teach him. When I have done with him, it is true he will be neither a soldier, a lawyer, nor a divine. Let him first be a man; Fortune may remove him from one rank to another as she pleases, he will be always found in his place."

Rousseau says in his famous essay on education: "In the natural order, all men are equal. Their common calling is to be human. Anyone well educated to fulfill the duties of a man will be well prepared for any role he may hold. It matters little to me whether my pupil is destined for the army, the ministry, or the law. Nature calls us to the duties of human life before society assigns us a role. Living is the profession I would teach him. When I have finished teaching him, he will be neither a soldier, a lawyer, nor a minister. Let him first be a man. Fortune may move him from one rank to another as she pleases. He will always be at home wherever he is."

A little, short doctor of divinity in a large Baptist convention stood on a step and said he thanked God he was a Baptist. The audience could not hear and called "Louder." "Get up higher," some one said. "I can't," he replied. "To be a Baptist is as high as one can get." But there is something higher than being a Baptist, and that is being a man.

A very short doctor of divinity stood on a step at a large Baptist convention. He said he thanked God he was a Baptist. The audience could not hear him and called, "Louder." Someone said, "Get up higher." "I can't," he replied. "Being a Baptist is as high as anyone can get." But there is something higher than being a Baptist, and that is being a man.

As Emerson says, Talleyrand's question is ever the main one; not, is he rich? is he committed? is he well-meaning? has he this or that faculty? is he of the movement? is he of the establishment? but is he anybody? does he stand for something? He must be good of his kind. That is all that Talleyrand, all that the common sense of mankind asks.

As Emerson says, Talleyrand's question is always the main one. It is not: Is he rich? Is he committed? Is he well-meaning? Does he have this or that ability? Is he part of the movement? Is he part of the establishment? Rather, it is: Is he somebody? Does he stand for something? He must be good at whatever kind of person he is. That is all Talleyrand asks, and all that the common sense of mankind asks.

When Garfield as a boy was asked what he meant to be he answered: "First of all, I must make myself a man; if I do not succeed in that, I can succeed in nothing."

When Garfield was a boy, someone asked him what he wanted to be. He answered: "First of all, I must make myself a man. If I don't succeed in that, I can't succeed in anything."

Montaigne says our work is not to train a soul by itself alone, nor a body by itself alone, but to train a man.

Montaigne says our job is not to train the soul or the body separately, but to train the whole person.

One great need for the world to-day is for men and women who are good animals. To endure the strain of our concentrated civilization, the coming man and woman must have good bodies and an excess of animal spirits.

One great need in the world today is for men and women who are physically strong and healthy. To withstand the strain of our intense civilization, future generations must have strong bodies and abundant energy.

What more glorious than a magnificent manhood, animated with the bounding spirits of overflowing health?

What could be more glorious than a magnificent man, full of energy and overflowing with health?

It is a sad sight to see thousands of students graduated every year from our grand institutions whose object is to make stalwart, independent, self-supporting men, turned out into the world saplings instead of stalwart oaks, "memory-glands" instead of brainy men, helpless instead of self-supporting, sickly instead of robust, weak instead of strong, leaning instead of erect. "So many promising youths, and never a finished man!"

It is sad to see thousands of students graduate each year from our great institutions and enter the world unprepared. These institutions aim to make them strong, independent, self-supporting men. Yet they send them out as saplings instead of sturdy oaks, "memory-glands" instead of intelligent men. They are helpless instead of self-supporting, sickly instead of healthy, weak instead of strong, leaning instead of standing tall. "So many promising youths, and never a finished man!"

The character sympathizes with and unconsciously takes on the nature of the body. A peevish, snarling, ailing man can not develop the vigor and strength of character which is possible to a healthy, robust, cheerful man. There is an inherent love in the human mind for wholeness, a demand that man shall come up to the highest standard; and there is an inherent protest or contempt for preventable deficiency. Nature, too, demands that man be ever at the top of his condition.

Character responds to the body and unconsciously takes on its nature. An irritable, snarling, sickly man cannot develop the vigor and strength of character possible for a healthy, robust, cheerful man. The human mind has an inherent love of wholeness and demands that man reach the highest standard. It also naturally resists or despises any deficiency that could be prevented. Nature, too, demands that man always be at his best.

As we stand upon the seashore while the tide is coming in, one wave reaches up the beach far higher than any previous one, then recedes, and for some time none that follows comes up to its mark, but after a while the whole sea is there and beyond it. So now and then there comes a man head and shoulders above his fellow men, showing that Nature has not lost her ideal, and after a while even the average man will overtop the highest wave of manhood yet given to the world.

As we stand on the shore watching the tide come in, one wave reaches much farther up the beach than any before it. Then it recedes, and for a while no wave reaches its mark. But eventually the whole sea reaches that point and moves beyond it. In the same way, a man now and then stands head and shoulders above his fellow men. He shows that Nature has not lost her ideal. And eventually even the average man will rise above the highest level of manhood the world has yet seen.

Apelles hunted over Greece for many years, studying the fairest points of beautiful women, getting here an eye, there a forehead and there a nose, here a grace and there a turn of beauty, for his famous portrait of a perfect woman which enchanted the world. So the coming man will be a composite, many in one. He will absorb into himself not the weakness, not the follies, but the strength and the virtues of other types of men. He will be a man raised to the highest power. He will be a self-centered, equipoised, and ever master of himself. His sensibility will not be deadened or blunted by violation of Nature's laws. His whole character will be impressionable, and will respond to the most delicate touches of Nature.

Apelles searched Greece for many years, studying the most beautiful features of women. He chose an eye here, a forehead or nose there, and various graceful forms and features. He used them for his famous portrait of a perfect woman, which enchanted the world. In the same way, the man of the future will combine many types of men in one. He will take in their strengths and virtues, not their weaknesses or follies. He will be a man developed to his fullest potential. He will be grounded, balanced, and always in control of himself. His sensitivity will not be dulled or blunted by breaking Nature’s laws. His whole character will be receptive and respond to Nature’s most delicate touches.

The first requisite of all education and discipline should be man-timber. Tough timber must come from well grown, sturdy trees. Such wood can be turned into a mast, can be fashioned into a piano or an exquisite carving. But it must become timber first. Time and patience develop the sapling into the tree. So through discipline, education, experience, the sapling child is developed into hardy mental, moral, physical man-timber.

The first aim of all education and discipline should be to develop man-timber. Strong timber must come from healthy, sturdy trees. Such wood can become a mast, a piano, or an exquisite carving. But first it must become timber. Time and patience turn a sapling into a tree. In the same way, discipline, education, and experience develop a child from a sapling into hardy mental, moral, and physical man-timber.

If the youth should start out with the fixed determination that every statement he makes shall be the exact truth; that every promise he makes shall be redeemed to the letter; that every appointment shall be kept with the strictest faithfulness and with full regard for other men's time; if he should hold his reputation as a priceless treasure, feel that the eyes of the world are upon him that he must not deviate a hair's breadth from the truth and right; if he should take such a stand at the outset, he would, like George Peabody, come to have almost unlimited credit and the confidence of everybody who knows him.

Suppose a young man sets out with a firm determination to make every statement exactly truthful. He resolves to keep every promise to the letter and honor every appointment faithfully, with full respect for other people’s time. Suppose he also regards his reputation as a priceless treasure and feels that the eyes of the world are on him. He feels he must not stray even slightly from truth and right. If he takes this stand from the start, he will, like George Peabody, come to enjoy almost unlimited credit and the confidence of everyone who knows him.

What are palaces and equipages; what though a man could cover a continent with his title-deeds, or an ocean with his commerce; compared with conscious rectitude, with a face that never turns pale at the accuser's voice, with a bosom that never throbs with fear of exposure, with a heart that might be turned inside out and disclose no stain of dishonor? To have done no man a wrong; to have put your signature to no paper to which the purest angel in heaven might not have been an attesting witness; to walk and live, unseduced, within arm's length of what is not your own, with nothing between your desire and its gratification but the invisible law of rectitude;—this is to be a man.

What are palaces and carriages compared with a clear conscience? What if a man owned a continent or filled an ocean with his commerce? What would that be compared with a face that never turns pale at an accusation? Or with a chest that never pounds with fear of being exposed? Or with a heart that could be turned inside out without revealing a stain of dishonor? To have wronged no one. To have signed no document that the purest angel in heaven could not have witnessed. To live and walk within arm's reach of what is not yours, without giving in to temptation. To have nothing between your desire and its satisfaction but the invisible law of right conduct. This is what it means to be a man.

Man is the only great thing in the universe. All the ages have been trying to produce a perfect model. Only one complete man has yet evolved. The best of us are but prophesies of what is to come.

Man is the only great thing in the universe. Throughout the ages, the world has been trying to produce a perfect model. Only one complete man has yet evolved. Even the best of us are only signs of what is to come.