Dear World:

My young son starts school today. It’s going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now he’s been king of the roost. He’s boss of the backyard. His mother has always been around to repair his wounds, and I’ve always been handy to soothe his feelings. But now things are going to be different.

This morning he’s going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure. It’s an adventure that might take him across continents. It’s an adventure that will probably include wars, tragedy, and sorrows.

To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith, love, and courage.

So, world—I wish you would sort of take him by his hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him—gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel, there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take time, World, I know, but teach him, if you can, that a nickel earned is of far more value than a dollar found. Teach him to learn to lose and to enjoy winning.

Steer him away from envy, if you can, and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest people to lick. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books, but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill.

In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on the screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brawn and brains, but never put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him gently, World, but don’t coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.