THE STABILITY OF TRUTH. 363 
is its persistence. The persistence of a lofty ideal is the 
central axis of the life worth living. 
But if the strong man is to cast off conventionality 
and suggestion and authority as guides to conduct, so 
must he guard himself against hereditary impulses. 
Conventionality and authority hold in check the bodily 
impulses which had their origin in wild and rude condi- 
tions. To escape from human control only to be ruled 
by the animal passions is not liberty. That “ freedom 
which is thraldom to sin” brings destruction, for the 
unchecked gratification of bodily impulses carries with 
it in civilization perils unknown to primitive man. To 
be free from the control of others one should be wise 
enough to control himself, and wisdom is but another 
name for science. 
An old parable of the conduct of life shows man in 
a light skiff in a tortuous channel beset with rocks, 
borne by a falling current to an un- 
known sea. He is kept alert by the 
dangers of his situation. As his boat 
bumps against the rocks he must bestir himself. If 
this contact were not painful he would not heed it. 
If it were not destructive he would not need to heed it. 
Had he no power to act, he could not heed it if he 
would. But with sensation, will, freedom to act, nar- 
row though the limits of freedom be, his safety rests in 
some degree in his own hands. That he has thus far 
steered his course fairly well is shown by the fact that 
he is still above board. He may choose his course for 
himself—not an easy thing to do, unless he scan most 
carefully the nature of rocks and waves, and weighs 
carefully his control of the boat itself. He may fol- 
low the course of others with some degree of the safety 
they have attained. He may follow his own impulses, 
in man’s case inherited from those who found them safe 
The course 
of life. 
