Booker T. Washington: Charitable Hearts and Strong Minds

If there is one person more than another who is to be pitied, it is the individual who is all heart and no head.

​You will see numbers of persons going through the world whose hearts are full of good things—running over with the wish to do some thing to make somebody better, or the desire to make somebody happier—but they have made the sad mistake of being absolutely without development of mind to go with this willingness of heart.

We want development of mind and we want strengthening of the mind.

Booker T. Washington, Character Building, 1902

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This short paragraph by Booker T. Washington reminds me of the old adage about, "Give a hungry man a fish and you feed him for but a day; teach a hungry man 'how to fish' and you feed him and his family for a lifetime." ​In both of these cases there is heart involved, but in the latter case there is not only a "willingness of heart" but a "development and strengthening of mind" in the understanding of human nature.

We have to find the balance to our compassion for our fellow human beings: Letting strong minds guide our hearts in doing what is best for each individual.

​Peter E. Greulich

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