Page:About people (IA aboutpeople00well).pdf/63

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INDIVIDUALITY IN HOME.
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world is to be any better for our living in it, it will only be so in proportion to our distinctness of thought, style, and mode of expression. Then society becomes rich and brilliant; the bon-mots of the dinner-table whet the appetite, and the opinions of the evening coterie become laws for those who have no time, or are too lazy to think. There must, however, be a force that shall prevent our individuality from too speedy expression of itself, or from interfering with the rights of another, or preventing his expression of himself. Conventionality is the rightful restraint upon individuality, the heavy armor of what has been, not the elastic armor of what one likes; but, as with any other coat of mail, it should not be thrown off until the wearer is able to exist unguarded. The laws of custom are scabbards that sheathe the cutting weapon.

Nothing should grow more slowly than individuality, or have its steel more finely tempered. An individuality of crude opinion or

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