There are many other things that pertain to human life in its aspects as a road to success. But when you have done your best, do not be anxious because you have not done more. No man can accomplish everything in one short life, and the best we can do is all that is required of us. Look upon every man as a fellow worker, not in a vale of tears, but as cultivating a pleasant valley blooming with flowers. If your friend falls down help him up, and he will help you in return. If he offends you, do not notice it, for no man deliberately offends a friend. If disagreement is likely to lead to trouble, turn around to your opponent’s way of thinking. Everybody has burdens to bear; and never forget that yours are not the only ones hard to carry. Be a man who dares, and when life’s fitful fever is over, and you have accomplished all you could according to your lights and your ability, let a feeling of peace steal over you, and trust in God for the rest. The man who desires to become a man of courage, and a man who dares, may gain force from the words of wisdom in the wise man’s philosophy expressed in the following essentials. “Who so wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” —(_Psalms CV, 11–43._) THE WISE MAN’S PHILOSOPHY A WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE For Progressive Colored Americans “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” —(_Proverbs XVI, 21_) The Secret of Successful Work Knowing how to work is a secret all men do not possess. When a man is born his life work is born with him, but the work he does remains after he is gone. Hence the necessity of doing good work for the evil work we do remains along with the good and hangs upon it like fetters upon a felon’s wrists. Whether a man works with his hands or his brain he exhausts, uses up a certain quantity of his physical body. His brain, muscles, and every part of his body are drawn upon to help do the work in hand. Now, a man may lessen the hardship of his work, or he may increase it by his manner of doing it. When any work is begun, a certain amount of vital energy is started up and continues working until it is stopped. That energy is like the movement of a clock pendulum—it keeps on moving back and forth as long as it is kept wound up. When the clock runs down, the pendulum stops because there is no stored up force to keep it in motion. This is exactly what takes place in the body when we work. We set the pendulum in motion and it keeps on going until the clock runs down, that is until we drop with exhaustion. This vital energy is an intellectual quality, and when we work our mind keeps it active. It is the same when we make hard work of any job. The vital energy works hard also.