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“Difference Between Believing
and Knowing”
Presenter: Dick Stetler – June 2021
*Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) “In courts of law the phrase I believe has no standing. Never a witness gives testimony but that the person is cautioned thus, “Tell us what you know, not what you believe.” In theology, belief has always been regarded as
more important than that which your senses say is so.
Almost without exception belief is legacy, an importation
– something borrowed, an echo, and often an echo of an echo. The Creed of the Future will begin, I know,
not I believe. And
this creed will not be forced upon the people.
It will carry with it no coercion, no blackmail, no promise of an
eternal life of idleness and ease if you accept it, and no threat of
hell if you don’t. It will have no paid professional priesthood,
claiming honors, rebates and exemptions, nor will it hold estates free
from taxation. It will not
organize itself into a system, marry itself to the State, and call on
the police for support. It will be reasonable, so in the line of
self-preservation that no sane man or woman will reject it, and when we
really begin to live it, we will cease to talk about it. As a suggestion and first rough draft, I submit
this – I KNOW: That I am here in a world where nothing is permanent but
change. And that in degree,
I myself can change the form of things and influence a few people; and
that I am influenced by these and other people; and that I am influenced
by the example and by the work of others who are no longer alive. I know that the work I do will in degree influence
people who may live after my life has changed into other forms; that
certain attitudes of mind and habit of action on my part will add to the
peace, happiness, and well-being of other people.
I know that a different thought and action on my part will bring
pain and discord to others; and that I would secure reasonable happiness
for myself, I must give out good will to others; that to better my own
condition, I must practice mutuality. I know that health is necessary to engage in
effective work; that I am largely ruled by habit, that habit is a form
of exercise; that up to a certain point, exercise means increased
strength or ease in effort.
I know that all life is the expression of spirit; that my spirit
influences my body, and my body influences my spirit; that the universe
to me is very beautiful, and everything and everybody in it is good and
beautiful, when my body and my spirit are in a harmonious mood. I know that my thoughts are hopeful and helpful
unless I am filled with fear, and that to eliminate fear my life must be
dedicated to useful work – work in which I forget myself; that fresh air
in abundance and moderate, systematic exercise in the open air are the
part of having wisdom, and that I cannot afford, for my own sake, to be
resentful nor quick to take offense. I know that happiness is not possible without
moderation and equanimity that turn all discords into harmony if people
will be kind and patient, and that the reward which life holds out for
work is not idleness nor rest, nor immunity from work, but increased
capacity, greater difficulties, and more inner-homework to do to
continue growing.” *Elbert Hubbard was a creative, informed
philosopher and a prolific writer who lived in East Aurora, New York. He
trained young men in many crafts that would help them to find work that
was useful and gratifying.
His words above came from his book, Health & Wealth in his essay
The Things We Know.
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