Chapter XI. Causing the Best to Happen - p.129

A certain phase of modern optimism has fallen into the habit of saying that everything is for the best. Whatever comes or not, according to this idea, be it good or otherwise, the mind is consoled with the belief that it is all for the best. And although there is a pleasing side to this belief still the final result of it is not desirable. To live in the belief that anything is for the best is to get into the habit of becoming content with anything; and to become content with anything is to cease practically all efforts toward the attainment of the higher and the greater. Such an attitude will also cause the mind to admit everything that may enter its world, no matter how inferior it may be.

A great many people, however, think that if we live in the convictions that all is for the best, all things will work themselves out for the best, and there is some truth in this. But things will not work themselves out for the best unless we cause them to do their best; and before things will do their best we must do our best. But the doing of one's best requires more than a mere statement