Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up
in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but
only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher,
I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:
- Do not feel absolutely certain of
anything.
- Do not think it worth while to
proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to
come to light.
- Never try to discourage thinking
for you are sure to succeed.
- When you meet with opposition, even
if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor
to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a
victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
- Have no respect for the authority
of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be
found.
- Do not use power to suppress
opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions
will suppress you.
- Do not fear to be eccentric in
opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once
eccentric.
- Find more pleasure in intelligent
dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value
intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper
agreement than the latter.
- Be scrupulously truthful, even if
the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when
you try to conceal it.
- Do not feel envious of the
happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a
fool will think that it is happiness.