This enthusiasm pleased and
also amused his cynical chief.
"You believe in things?" Malcolm said to him after they had become well
acquainted. "Well, it is an admirable quality--but dangerous. You will need
careful editing. Your best plan is to give yourself up to your belief while
you are writing--then to edit yourself in cold blood. That is the secret of
success, of great success in any line, business, politics, a
profession--enthusiasm, carefully revised and edited."
"It is difficult to be cold blooded when one is in earnest."
"True," Malcolm answered, "and there is the danger. My own enthusiasms are
confined to the important things--food, clothing and shelter. It seems to
me that the rest is largely a matter of taste, training and time of life.
But don't let me discourage you. I only suggest that you may have to guard
against believing so intensely that you produce the impression of being an
impracticable, a fanatic. Be cautious always; be especially cautious when
you are cocksure you're right. Unadulterated truth always arouses suspicion
in the unaccustomed public. It has the alarming tastelessness of distilled
water."
Howard was acute enough to separate the wisdom from the cynicism of his
chief. He saw the lesson of moderation.
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