In politics they call some men “rubber shoes”; such men continue long, but they never achieve highly.  Do not try to cultivate this quality if Nature has been so kind as not to endow you with it.  It is not a masterful quality.  Have the courage not only of your convictions—­that is not so hard—­but have the courage of your conceptions.  But do not simulate courage if you have it not.  False courage is worse than cowardice—­it is falsehood and cowardice combined.

Reserve also includes the power to wait; and that is almost as crucial a test of greatness as courage itself.  Many a battle has been lost by over-eagerness.  There was the greatness of Fate itself in the order of the American officer of the Revolution who said, “Wait, men, until you see the whites of their eyes.”

Time is a young man’s greatest ally.  That is why youth holds the whip-hand of the world.  That is why youth can afford to dare.  It is also why age does not dare to dare.  With youth, to-morrow is merely an accession of power; but with age—­ah, well, with age, as Omar says,

                  “To-morrow I may be
    Myself with yesterday’s seven thousand years.”

Fourth:  The fourth quality in character, the lowest one in the list, is Intellect.  Not that it is not so valuable as the others, but it is so abundant, and, without the others, so useless.  What is it we hear the strong-handed Philistines say in the market-place?  “Brains are cheap”; that is what we hear them say.  And they say truly.  Many years ago I became acquainted with a millionaire who had acquired his wealth by building things, raising cattle, erecting factories—­not by shuffling the cards of trade.

His grammar is defective, but his elemental vitality will do you as much good as a walk in the fresh air after the poisoned and steaming atmosphere of a crowded room.  “How have I succeeded?” said he, in answer to a question one day.  “Oh, by just having the nerve to decide upon a plan, and then by hiring these brainy fellows to do my work.  I can get the services of the ablest lawyer in this city for a crumb of the loaf I realize from his thought and industry.  The secret of success?  Why, sir, it is will, that is all—­will, nerve, ‘sand.’”

Let me enlarge on the first great quality of character.  Sincerity, truthfulness—­write these on the tablets of your heart; get them into your blood.  This is something that you can cultivate.  One of the keen lawyers of my town whom we elected as judge of our court, and who is full of the fresh and living wisdom of the people, said this one day: 

“A man can cultivate honesty—­there is no doubt about that; but a man who is born honest has a great advantage.”

So if you have any taint of the blood which you discover inclines you toward guile, insincerity, and untruthfulness fortify yourself by the reflection that insincerity is a losing game.  Put it on the low ground of self-interest, and be truthful, be “square.”