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<br />that his answer repudiated all that the editors of Modern Office Procedures had to offer. <br />The selection, he said, was made on the basis of selflessness. <br /> <br />I think America recognizes always a tremendous idemand for ability. And I think <br />that ultimately, this is the final fulcrum upon which tHe ultimate decision for promotion <br />has to be made. I want to believe that all men are not e;qual. That some are born leaders, <br />some born to command, some are brighter, better gifted, and better able. For these men, it <br />is foolish for them to be unethical. There is no real n~ed. And today, it is easier than <br />ever'before in history to stand out. All you need to do is to do a little more than you've <br />been asked to and don't worry over who's going to get the credit. <br /> <br />What firm can long exist if its men of ability are r,elegated to the sidelines by ruth- <br />less men who knee, and knife and brawl their way to the top. Not that a few won't make it <br />th is way. But in a naughty world, an honest man sta~ds out with far'more clarity than <br />at any other time. . ' <br /> <br />'. ' <br /> <br />'0' <br /> <br /> <br />As one top Phoenix executive said to me the othe~ day on this subject, "it is true <br />that some men do get ahead by such procedures in a few companies. But these are the <br />companies that ultimately have to go outside their own :ranks to bring in top executives. <br />When they find they can trust no one, they have to look elsewhere for leadership." <br /> <br />i <br />This is very frankly a very serious talk and I've p:robably tied into a subject far too <br />big for me to handle. <br /> <br />_i <br /> <br />But perhaps it will make you think a little bit about your own firm, your own <br />practices, your own small world. The deadliest sin is ~o be conscious of no sin. <br /> <br />, <br />I have heard men scoff today about how you can'~ do business in today's world with- <br />out succumbing to evil. If this is true, then the Whol~ background of my civilization and <br />yours is based upon a falsehood. ! / <br /> <br />, <br />The rich legacy of western civilization, beginning with the Greeks and the Romans, <br />predicated upon the preaching of the Talmud as well, says otherwise. <br /> <br />The great philosopher Plato wrote: "if I were su~e God would pardon me, and men <br />would not know my sin, yet I should be ashamed to si~, because of its essential baseness". <br />A great Roman wrote: "Bad men hate sin through fea~ of punishment; Good men hate sin <br />through their love of virtue," ' <br /> <br />~i , <br /> <br />i <br />Y! <br /> <br />This rich legacy is the only substantial thing that our progenitors have handed down <br />to us... and that we in turn can hand down to our progeny, <br /> <br />Are we then to be the generation that breaks th i~ contract of an eternal society? <br />! / <br />! ' <br /> <br /> <br />- 24- <br />