Coolidge

In the book of speeches I am reading, is one given by Calvin Coolidge who was the 30th President of the US.  He was born in 1872 and died in 1933.  He had humble origins.  His dad instilled in him things like honesty, industry and thrift while his mum promoted the love of nature and books.  He was a man of few words.  “Silent Cal” they called him.  When he died someone quipped “how can they tell?” 
Some things he said though really got my attention.  Concerning democracy, “its weakness is the weakness of us imperfect human beings who administer it.”  I also love that he said, “the welfare of the weakest and the welfare of the most powerful are inseparable.”
I knew nothing about him.  What I read has caused me to look up other sources.  I sure do not hold him up as the saviour of the world.  That job is already taken.  As the Foxtel ad says, “there is good in bad people, and bad in good people.”
To my mind he said heaps of good things.
·      We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.
It is too easy to be overwhelmed.
·      No man ever listened himself out of a job.
We have two ears and one mouth.
·      The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.
Surely dying for the nation is societies ultimate sacrifice.
·      …nothing I never said ever did me any harm.
It is what I say that can get me into trouble – not what I don’t say.
·      Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
There is no substitute for it.   Quick fixes can be dodgy.
·      No person was ever honoured for what he received.  Honour has been the reward for what he gave.
I love that.  Reward for effort.  I give for its own sake – not to get.
·      There is no dignity quite so impressive… as living within your means.
That is like a “wash your mouth out” thing these days if personal debt is considered.
·      Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong.
Tall poppy syndrome we call it.  When I saw my doctor about driving again I said “I think I am a better driver than some.”  His comment?  “The bar is set pretty low.”
·      Duty is not collective, it is personal.
Collective is a whole lot of personal.
·      It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.  
This to me was a doozy.  At first, I was unsure if I could agree with it.  Then I thought of what people worship (often it is given a different name, but it means the same).  It could be God, the job, the car, or the latest hobby, to name a few.  Bit like “special subject” in Hard Quiz really.  Generally, when something is worshipped, the knowledge of it continues to grow.   When I want the car fixed I take it to the mechanic (I think worship is an attitude, not an occupation).  Mechanics know stuff.  Not that they were born with the knowledge. They grew into it and I am grateful they did.  The worship of anything created or temporary is a no-go area for me but that is easier to say than do.
 
There was heaps.  I have culled a lot.   I like that he was speaking from experience and not theory.  My experience is way less, but I have found many of the things he said to be true.  For me, nothing beats feeling I am on the right track.