Page:The Art of Helping People Out of Trouble (1924).pdf/171

 "There isn't any use talking," John insisted. "I know what I'm going to do and that's keep the children."

The social worker, seeing how determined he was, decided not to press him.

Three or four days later she called again, but did not mention the subject. To do so would only strengthen John in his determination and weaken her influence with him.

A little later John raised the issue.

"You know, I've been thinking that it costs an awful lot of money to keep a family going, and I think the best thing I can do is to put the children away somewhere," and when the social worker offered to help him, he continued, "maybe you could do it better than I could—you just go ahead."

People are hardly ever convinced by argument. When a man has positive opinions, it is seldom wise to oppose him. It is vastly better to wait until more opportunity for thought or the logic of events convinces him. Then, when he arrives at a decision, the plan is his own.

The more difficult the plan is of execution, the more vital to the individual in trouble does the sense of personal identity with it become. It was