DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick diary of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Air Corps, January 1, 1943-June 1, 1943

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Nile Kinnick diary of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Air Corps, January 1, 1943-June 1, 1943

Page 34

5/29 - Sat.
If a man would grow in character his battle with self must be unceasing.
Is there a difference between modesty and humility? May not the former be an intellectual quality and the latter a spiritual?
Thought and action which centres around self can only bring unhappiness, vexation. Failure to honestly & courageously reconcile your ideals & present needs brings much distress, moral confusion. Expectation of absolute certainty in human affairs through prayer results in frustration, exhaustion. The spirit & the letter are compliments one of the other, as are faith & understanding, but prefer the simple to the fancy or complex if you would triumph.
Be genuine, pleasant, tolerant - avoid pretense.
The enlisted men and mess attendants sure have it tough on board a ship. They are pretty much victims of the duty involved. It is hard to say how their lot could be bettered and still do the job that has to be done.
Big ball game on the beach this afternoon bet. VB 23 & VF 16 followed by a beer bust. We lost, but it was a lot of fun.

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5/29 - Sat. If a man would grow in character his battle with self must be unceasing. Is there a difference between modesty and humility? May not the former be an intellectual quality and the latter a spiritual? Thought and action which centres around self can only bring unhappiness, vexation. Failure to honestly & courageously reconcile your ideals & present needs brings much distress, moral confusion. Expectation of absolute certainty in human affairs through prayer results in frustration, exhaustion. The spirit & the letter are compliments one of the other, as are faith & understanding, but prefer the simple to the fancy or complex if you would triumph. Be genuine, pleasant, tolerant - avoid pretense. The enlisted men and mess attendants sure have it tough on board a ship. They are pretty much victims of the duty involved. It is hard to say how their lot could be bettered and still do the job that has to be done. Big ball game on the beach this afternoon bet. VB 23 & VF 16 followed by a beer bust. We lost, but it was a lot of fun.