Article November 15, 1947 Issue

PRACTICAL EXCELLENCE

HERBERT W. COCHRAN

Herbert Spencer in his noted biological treatise coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" to describe certain beliefs of the human mind concerning the preservation of its false sense of existence. This theory has been seized upon by certain ideologies as the justification for individual and racial persecution and even extermination.

Its adoption by individuals has resulted in a mad scramble selfishly, and sometimes dishonestly, to outwit and thus surpass others in every walk of life. Spiritually thought of, it might well apply to qualities but not to persons. Thus, it may well signify that it is only the good intention, the honest endeavor, the unselfish act—yea, the spiritual fact—that will survive obliteration. Good survives, while evil disintegrates.

But, someone may ask, is it not right for me to endeavor to excel in sport and business? Indeed it is, if you will but maintain the right attitude in your striving for excellence. It is right for one to endeavor to express unerring intelligence and unbounded power, and in the proportion that he succeeds in this endeavor will his efforts in any right line be successful. The struggle to excel predicated on the desire to defeat another individual is error, and is not fit to survive.

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