Confidence

painting by Laura Baran

Keep the child's mind full of harmony, of truth, and there will be no room for discord, for error.

Now, what advantage is it to send a youth out into the world with a head full of knowledge but without the confidence or assurance to use it effectively, or the ability to grapple with life's problems with that vigor and efficiency which alone can bring success?

The time will come when no child will be allowed to grow up without being taught to believe in themselves, to have great confidence in their ability. This will be a most important part of their education, for if a child believes in themselves enough, they will not be likely to allow a single deficient faculty or weakness to wreck their career.

Excerpt from The Miracle of Right Thought by Orison Swett Marden, published in 1910