Page 51 - Briefcase Volume 36 Number 2

PROFESSOR A.A. WHITE

Final Tort Law Class – April 19, 1982

“I want to use these few remaining precious moments you want to live life free from anxiety and approach
talking to you about living life. I have spent some its end at peace with the world, being honest is
75 hours talking with you about Torts, but how absolutely essential. Again, if I may be personal, I
successfully you live your personal life is do not approach honesty as a religious issue — I
more important to your happiness than how approach it as a practical style of life issue.
successfully you practice tort law. In fact, how For example, I can say that I have never
successfully you live life may substantially cheated one iota on an exam. I am not sure
affect how successfully you practice any law. I did not because of an irresistible moral
barricade, though I would like to think that
“I would first say to you, live life so as never
to live it on a psychological down side. There such was a substantial factor, but I also
are few things more pathetic than seeing refrained from cheating because I did not
persons winding down their lives experiencing want the distraction, the divided attention, the
the dregs of their existence. So, plan and live apprehension it would cause. I was convinced
your life from the long range point of view. Sure, that I would do better to prepare and take the
you will come to be unable to do some of the things exam with such mental powers as I had focused
you once did: you will not be able to run as fast, swim and concentrated 100 percent on the substance of the
as far or experience one of life’s great joys with the same problems presented.
intensity. Some of you men, as I have, when you grow older will “Also, have elevating objectives to which your life, and even your
have your chauvinistic pride hurt when you are out walking at what death, will contribute. Enjoy some activity or activities while you
you think is a pretty good clip, and a walking woman overtakes and live that will help to make of this a better world. That can be your
passes you. But despite those little disappointments, let me assure life’s work or some collateral activity. And plan, if you can, so that
you that each stage of life has its own unique values if you are at death some of the fruits of your life can be made to reach into
prepared to live each stage for those values. So while you are young, eternity with an uplifting purpose. I have no ‘home in the sky’
do not experience a debilitating dread of growing old. Whatever religion. If something like that is a bonus for me, well and good. But
nature does to you, it will substantially prepare you for it. Sufficient I do have a consuming love for mankind and a desire to contribute
to each stage of life are the joys thereof. to its uplift. I think mankind has a noble, symphonic mission, and
“How can you best prepare to realize the joys of each stage? I do not you people as a part of that mankind are very real to me. You are
purport to have all the answers, but the perspective gained from my a substantial part of my eternity. If I can have lifted or otherwise
considerable years suggests, first, that you keep in the best physical made your life just a little better, I am very happy about it.
health you can naturally. To that end, take regular physical exercise. “Finally, love someone or someones for which happily you want
We are told that everywhere, and I shall not belabor that point. to primarily live your life. If you do that, you will find that you
are also living it for yourself. I would be unreal and dishonest if
“Then, practice preventive health measures to avoid the need for
curative ones. If I may be personal, I have not had a cold for three or I led you to believe that observing my suggestions will produce a
four years, and I have not had a headache in the Lord only knows perpetually blissful existence.
when — maybe 25 or 30 years. “If you observed them fully, life would still produce its conditioning
“Further, do not abuse your body. If you abuse it at all, do it lightly. and soul-tempering hard knocks and its sorrowful heartbreaks. Mrs.
Please be assured that there is an inevitable downside to every White and I have had them. That is the grand order of things. But
artificially induced upside. It may sometimes be a little long in coming, I am talking to you about how best to live life on balance. It is my
and it may come somewhat disguised, but come it surely will. deep conviction that living life within these suggestions will produce
the most net fun while living it and will produce the brightest and
“Next, develop and practice self-discipline. Your most enduring joys warmest glow as you reach full maturity.
will be those harvested from your being masters of your own life.
“If I could have one wish, I would live here on earth for a million
“Then, be honest; yes, even on your income tax. That may seem to years with the wife, son and daughter I have, and friends like you.
you to be a strange suggestion, but we have melancholy proof all But, since I cannot have that, I wish for each of you health, success
about us every day that it is not an irrelevant admonition. So if
and happiness.” ■

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