On Doing The Right Thing

Upon his return to the U.S. from his European exile in 1812, AB found many shoulders he’d once rubbed against with industry had turned frightfully cold.

One such man, an old college classmate, had been someone who’d called himself a friend of AB for what seemed a lifetime. AB dashed off a note announcing his return, requesting a meeting. The self professed “friend” replied in a manner that revealed his awareness of the social-implications of association with AB at the time. With clear dejection, AB made this diary entry on the episode:

“When a man takes time to consider whether he will do a good or civil action, be assured he will never do it. The baser feelings, the calculations of interest and timidity, always prevail…”

The reply from his friend made the attempt at feigning the illusion of continued friendship and consideration of the request, but AB was right, the “Friend” never followed-up.