Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

Editorials from the Hearst Newspapers by Arthur Brisbane
page 54 of 366 (14%)

Who makes the drunkard? His enemies? No. The drunkard is made
by his friends.

When it is known that he is inclined to drink no enemy is so
vicious as to lead him on. No enemy slaps him on the back and
begs him to take "just another drink." No enemy laughs down his
poor, feeble attempts at reform. No enemy tells him that it will
not hurt him "just this time," and that he really must not refuse
to be a good fellow "just for once."

The drunkard is MADE a drunkard, is pushed into the last depths
of drunkenness, by his friends.

And it is his friends who kick him and leave him and despise him
when he has sunk into the mire.

Did ever the drunkard's enemy hurt him as much as the friend has
hurt him? ----

AMBITION KILLED BY FRIENDS

A young man starts out to succeed in life. His enemy may lie
about him, may call him worthless. He may think he is hurting
him. If there is anything in the young man, the enemy's lies and
discouraging words only spur him on to greater effort. They do
him good.

It is the friend that ruins the young man by false, injudicious,
unearned praise.
DigitalOcean Referral Badge