“Let every man therefore”, says professor Blackie, ‘beware of being narrow -minded, and
Possessing unreasonable hatreds
and prejudices against others. An honest hater is often a better fellow than a cool friend ; but it is better not to hate at all.A good man will as much as possible , try to overcome his prejudices , and learn to study the good points of a persons and parties to whom he is naturally opposed. Never allow yourself to find fault with and laugh at large classes and sections of your fellow –beings; that sort of talk sounds big, but is in fact childish . Never refuse to think well of a man simply because all the world is talking against him or because he belongs to some sect or party that your friends look down upon .If he is universally talked against, as happens to many of the best men in certain circumstances ,there is only so much the more need that he should receive a friendly judgment from you . ‘Honor all men’ is the text of both pious and wise;but this you cannot do unless you try to know all men ; and you know no men till you have looked all men ,with the eye of the brother ,into the best that is in him.To do this is the true moral philosophy –the best human riches.”
The spirit of toleration is necessary in the small as in the great things of life . Even the school boys have frequent opportunities for the exercise of the same spirit. Hence the folly of expecting everybody to think , as we think .They will think as we think ,if the same reasons are given to them and if those influence them as they influence us ,or if our reasons appear to them not to justify our opinions , they cannot think as we think. It is impossible ,and there is no help for it . What out to be helped , and ought to be avoided , is our trying to be helped ,and ought to be avoided , is our trying to publish others, because they do not see as we see , or think as we think .