IfYou’reWrong， AdmitIt
？戴尔·卡耐基 / DaleCarnegie
Withinaminute’swalkofmyhousetherewasawildstretchofvirgintimber， wheretheblackberrythicketsfoamedwhiteinthespringtime， wherethesquirrelsnestedandrearedtheiryoung， andthehorseweedsgrewastallasahorse’—anditwasaforest， ， ， harmlesslittlehound； andsincewerarelymetanyoneinthepark， ItookRexalongwithoutaleashoramuzzle.
Onedayweencounteredamountedpolicemaninthepark， thepolicemanitchingtoshowhisauthority.
“Whatdoyoumeanbylettingthatdogrunlooseintheparkwithoutamuzzleandaleash？” hereprimandedme.“Don’tyouknowit’sagainstthelaw？”
“Yes， Iknowitis，” Irepliedsofty， “butIdidn’tthinkhewoulddoanyharmouthere.”
“Youdidn’tthink！ Youdidn’tthink！ Thelawdoesn’tgiveatinker’， I’mgoingtoletyouoffthistime； butifIcatchthisdogouthereagainwithoutamuzzleandaleash， you’llhavetotellittothejudge.”
Imeeklypromisedtoobey.
AndIdidobey—’tlikethemuzzle， andneitherdidI； ， ， suddenly—tomydismayIsawthemajestyofthelaw， ， headingstraightfortheofficer.
’：“Officer， you’vecaughtmered-handed.I’， .”
“Well， now，” thepolicemanrespondedinasofttone.“Iknowit’satemptationtoletalittledoglikethathavearunoutherewhennobodyisaround.”
“Sureit’satemptation，” Ireplied.“butitisagainstthelaw.”
“Well， alittledoglikethatisn’tgoingtoharmanybody，” thepolicemanremonstrated.
“No， buthemaykillsquirrels，” Isaid.
“Wellnow， Ithinkyouaretakingthisabittooseriously，” hetoldme.
“I’’tseehim—andwe’llforgetallaboutit.”
