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He
Lost a Castle to Gain a Home
(The Rotarian,
February 1932)
By
Paul P. Harris
  A
timely message commemorative of the twenty-seventh anniversary
of Rotary International, from its Founder and President Emeritus
THE sailing of a boat in fair weather is not the best test of
seamanship; the maintenance of good cheer when everything is
coming one's way is not the best test of disposition; the
pursuit
of an enemy who is on the run, is not the best test of courage.
 Napoleon took slight interest in easy conquests. To turn defeat
into victory was the height of his ambition, and the ability to
accomplish his purpose was what made him Napoleon. He possessed
in superlative degree that something which we call courage. He
knew no fear. Courage works miracles, fear produces paralysis.
What marks the difference between yesterday and today? Yesterday
was the day of miracles, today the day of paralysis; yesterday
the day of indomitable, irrational courage, today the day of
persistent and equally irrational fear.
The economists tell us that there is more real wealth today than
ever before. Postal and savings bank accumulations account for
some of it, stocking and tea kettle hoardings, also for an
appreciable part.
Over‑production is more imaginary than real. Where is there one
whose wants are satisfied? He who has a small automobile wants a
larger one; he who has a 1931 model wants one of 1932. As human
desires are gratified they multiply. If the rate of satisfaction
increases by arithmetical progression, the rate of desires
increases by geometrical progression. The more one has the more
one wants. He who has the least is frequently most nearly
satisfied.
The orgy of 1929 might have been continued Ad infinitum so far
as man's wants are concerned, but where's the use? If human
happiness is the highest objective, it was time to turn the
switch; it was turned, and the thing that turned it was
mankind's hereditary enemy, fear ‑ paralyzing, irrational fear.
There are things even worse for the average man than economic
paralysis. The habit of worshiping mere things, is one of them.
The pity of it is to be found in the fact that the brunt of
misfortune has to be suffered by innocent bystanders, the wives
and children.
When the disease will have run its course, I do not know, I am
not an economist. What I do know is that it is possible for you
and for me to turn the whole business to good account, if we
will to do as Napoleon was wont to do, turn defeat into victory.
I know men who are doing that very thing. They are not those who
were least hit in 1929; they are those who were worst hit. One
was put out of business entirely, the result of frozen assets.
I
KNEW this man but slightly. I know him better now. In days of
so‑called prosperity, he lived within himself and his business.
Neither wife, son, nor daughter was permitted to enter into his
sanctum sanctorum. His house was his castle in very truth. Had
he lived in feudal days, he would have surrounded his castle
with a moat. The drawbridge would have been up and the
portcullis down. None could have gained admittance, except in
the sacred name of business.
The crash came, and down with it, his castle. His business
partner took his own life; not so, he; in his veins was the
blood of a Napoleon. He took inventory of his frozen assets.
With most of them there was nothing to do except to cast them
out of the window; but he found others of astounding value. They
had long been overlooked, almost forgotten in the debauch of
business. They were incompatible with the prevalent type of
prosperity. During the early days of hardship they had real
meaning. He, this man of iron, would thaw out, liquefy those
long overlooked, almost forgotten assets. He did so, and now
nothing on earth could buy them. They are beyond price. Take a
look at the list: neighborliness, friendliness, sympathy, love.
Place against them whatever else you will ‑ stocks, bonds ‑ or
what not. He lost his castle, but he found a home.
This man knew how to turn defeat into victory, but it took
adversity to bring him out. Prosperity never could have done it
in a thousand years. To you and to me, if we please, the present
crisis may prove to be the most profitable period of our entire
lives. Let us take time to inventory our frozen assets ‑ life's
imperishables, imponderables.
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