THE WORLD MAY BE BETTER

Mary Cassatt. Peasant Mother and Child, c. 1895. Art Institute of Chicago

“The world should be better because a man has lived" is one of my favorite lines from literature. There is humility in this line, as well as a desire to not only help people but also to leave a positive legacy for those who come after. In Little Lord Fauntleroy, Dearest (the boy's mother) tells Cedric that she hopes he will grow to be a man who takes the lessons of humility to heart.  

What a different world this would be if everyone viewed it as a blessing to wake up in the morning and pursued great deeds not for personal gain, but for the betterment of everyone.