" No one can refuse his
approval for this act. After telling the story of the man who went
down to Jericho and fell among thieves, and then of the priest, the
Levite, and the Samaritan who passed that way, Jesus put the question
to his critic, "Who was neighbor to him that fell among thieves?" And
the answer came even from unwilling lips, "He that showed mercy." When
Nathan Hale on the scaffold regretted that he had but one life to lose
for his country, we realize better what patriotism is. On the other
hand it is natural to _condemn wrong deeds_ when presented clearly and
objectively in the action of another. Nero caused Christians to be
falsely accused and then to be condemned to the claws of wild beasts in
the arena. When such cruelty is practiced against the innocent and
helpless, we condemn the act. When Columbus was thrown into chains
instead of being rewarded, we condemn the Spaniards. In the same way
the real world of persons about us, the acts of parents, companions,
and teachers are powerful in giving a good or bad tone to our
sentiments, because, as living object lessons, their impress is
directly and constantly upon us.
In such cases taken from daily experience and from illustrations of
personal conduct in books, it is possible to observe _how moral
judgments originate_ and by repetition grow into convictions.
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