T. It will be well to submit to that which you can not avoid; but when no unwise conduct on your part exists, the sneer will not be intolerable. You will find that submission to casual insult, is more tolerable and easy to endure, than a contention about it. The severest wrong of the two is wrangling. It is worse than all the insults mind ever endures. Insult injures no one more than he who indulges in it. Indeed, wisdom will not heed an insult. It will not stoop to quarrel with it. It passes on, unmindful of the wrong intended, and leaves the doer to gather what he has sown. But the contention of parties exhibits a weakness on both sides. It has been the folly of nations and individuals to resent insult, and the resentment has always made them more unhappy, than the insult could have done. I was not well satisfied in my rudimental state with the antagonistical elements of conditions around me. I saw war and bloodshed. I saw wrong and weakness. I saw power and tyranny. I saw evils and superstitions, ignorance and wretchedness. Then, I put forth my hand to overcome them, but the torrent swept along, and my hope was destroyed. I was not satisfied with war when in war, with contention when contention came, with strife when mind was striving with mind; and when I came into this sphere, I found a wisdom which gave what contention never brings--a peace that passeth all understanding--a love which filled me with sympathy, and gave energy to my soul for the good of those whose weakness was deserving of a commiseration and care, which the ignorant may scorn, and the foolish envy, but who can not share the joy it gives to my mind. Thus, was a mind advanced from a condition of wrangling to a condition of peace. When minds wrangle, it is not with words of wisdom, but words of folly. C. The theory you advocate is well; but it will not do to practice. Minds need something to make them do right. T. When minds do what something makes them, it is that _something_, and not them, which does it. They are not free, and are, therefore, irresponsible for what is done; as they are only the instruments in the hand of something. Will you tell me how a theory can be well, which it will not do to practice? C. Your theory looks well; but it would be injurious to any one who will practice it, because he would be compelled to suffer on account of the wickedness of others. Minds need restraint. T. Minds need wisdom, and, when they get wisdom, they require no restraint to make them do right. They will suffer less from the wickedness of others, when others are free, than they do while they control by fear. It is wicked in mind to do by others as it would not have others do to it. C. Then, you would unbridle the mind, and give it liberty to do as it pleased. T. I would unbridle the mind from its ignorance, release it from its chains, and inspire it with righteousness. Then, I would say, “Do as you please.” C. Would it not please to do wrong?