The teacher obtains a high value in the simple consciousness of being a worth-while person. One does not have to proclaim such a fact to the world. If it is true, the world is quite certain to learn about it. It brings health to one’s body and soul, however, for one to be able to feel honestly that his life is not a failure. It is a blessed thought to entertain that one really stands for something in his generation. The teacher can congratulate himself that he is a world builder. He has his hand upon the throttle of human progress. He turns the key that swings open the gate of the future. The inner life which he possesses is coveted by thousands who can never have it. They may try to substitute what money can buy for what only mind can possess, but the effort always ends in pitiful failure. One cannot long conceal a lack of mind and soul with clothes and paint. The result is only a vulgar display. The more flash and parade the ignorant indulge in, the cheaper they look. The person who possesses real quality and worth does not have to cover himself over with artificialities and affectations. He has only to stand forth as he is. The soul within him will tell its own story. Despite all the cheap ways in which the world indulges, its real hunger is for genuine worth, unveneered culture, real character. Some have missed these things because they made the mistake of setting out to make money alone. If one can have both these things and wealth, so much the better. If one must choose between the two, however, there is no question that money is the second choice. Thousands of people of every age could testify from their own experience that this is true. One can do much more working for society than he can if he works only for himself. Incidentally, he may fare best from a selfish point of view when all things have been considered. For many years an old colored woman sold peanuts on the grounds of Tuskegee Institute. A young negro girl who had just enrolled was one day admiring the buildings. Coming from a poor home in a backward community, she was amazed that one man had been able to gather together enough money to erect them. “If Dr. Washington had worked for himself instead of running this school, wouldn’t he have been rich?” she said one day to the old peanut woman. “Law, child! He wouldn’t a been worth a nickel,” was the reply. She was probably right. Plenty of people have made their only claim to riches by serving others. Others, with talents as promising, have spent their lives on mediocre levels, because it never occurred to them to live for anything but themselves. Dollars Versus Sense (1921)