The University of Hard KnocksParlette, Ralph Albert
Philosophy
The University of Hard Knocks
Parlette, Ralph Albert
Character; Conduct of life; Success
Many a time after that, Elder Berry would come into the room where I
was starving. He would say, "Brother Parlette, is this your boy?" He
would come over to the remains of Brother Parlette's boy. He would
often put his hand in benediction upon my head.
My head was not the place that needed the benediction.
He would say, "My boy, I want you to have a good time now." Now! When
all the chicken was gone and he had taken the neck! "My boy, you are
seeing the best days of your life right now as a child."
The dear old liar! I was seeing the worst days of my life. If there is
anybody shortchanged--if there is anybody who doesn't have a good time,
it's a child. Life has been getting better ever since, and today is the
best day of all. Go on south!
It's Better on South
Seeing your best days as a child? No! You are seeing your worst days.
Of course, you can be happy as a child. A boy can be happy with fuzz on
his upper lip, but he'll be happier when his lip feels more like mine
like a piece of sandpaper. There are chapters of happiness undreamed of
in his philosophy.
A child can be full of happiness and only hold a pint. But afterwhile
the same child will hold a quart.
I think I hold a gallon now. And I see people in the audience who must
hold a barrel! Go on south. Of course, I do not mean circumference. But
every year we go south increases our capacity for joy. Our life is one
continual unfolding as we go south. Afterwhile this old world gets too
small for us and we go on south into a larger one.
So we cannot grow old. Our life never stops. It goes on and on forever.
Anything that does not stop cannot grow old or have age. Material
things will grow old. This stage will grow old and stop. This hall will
grow old and stop. This house we live in will grow old and stop. This
flesh and blood house we live in will grow old and stop. This lecture
even will grow old--and stop! But you and I will never grow old, for
God cannot grow old. You and I will go on living as long as God lives.
I am not worried today over what I do not know. I used to be worried. I
used to say, "I have not time to answer you now!" But today it is such
a relief to look people in the face and say, "I do not know."
And I have to say that to many questions, "I do not know." I often
think if people in an audience only knew how little I know, they would
not stay to hear me.
But some day I shall know! I patiently wait for the answer. Every day
brings the answer to something I could not answer yesterday.
It will take an eternity to know an infinity!
What a wonderful happiness to go on south to it!
Overcoming Obstacles Develops Power
As the Mississippi River goes on south he finds obstacles along the
way. You and I find obstacles along our way south. What shall we do?
Go to Keokuk, Iowa, for your answer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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