Calves and Statesmen 107 



my simplicity at a loss of more than zos. to himself 

 and an excess gain of the same amount to me, in 

 one little calf a few days old. I intend that calf 

 for the breeding list, and who knows whether her 

 farther history may not be worth writing some 

 day ? As to the excessively clever man, I can 

 meet him everywhere every day under every name ; 

 and from my own dealings with him at least, I 

 cannot but see that honesty would be worth more 

 to him than all his cleverness in the long run. 

 Yet the popular estimate in human and moral 

 values continues to regard the honest man as a 

 fool, and it will take some time to improve on a 

 standard so firmly established. 



I am often asked a question like this : " If the 

 people in general were to adopt your methods, 

 would not your peculiar advantages be largely 

 cancelled ? " Of course, they would, but in that 

 case, I should expect compensating advantages to 

 arise. For instance, should I not be able to spend 

 less of my time and energy in the detective depart- 

 ment of my work as a farmer ? Besides, I see no 

 immediately disturbing prospect of my methods 

 being adopted on a dangerously large scale. The 

 excessive cleverness of the people in general 

 assures my peculiar advantages against any such 

 hypothetical alarm. I am prepared to sacrifice 

 much profit for the luxury of living among a 

 community of straight men in my own country, 

 but the creation of that community is not to be 

 achieved by lying to them for their applause. 

 Only the worthless care for the applause of 

 the worthless. 



