Essay, Paragraph, Speech on “Men Wanted” Long, Short Essay for School, College Students, essay for Class 8, 9, 10, 12 and Competitive Exams

Men Wanted

One day, it is said, Diogenes, the Greek Cynic philosopher, was found wandering about the market-place of Athens with a lighted lantern in broad daylight. He seemed to be looking for something he had lost. When the people asked him what he was looking for, he said: “Looking for? I was looking for an honest man;but I can’t find one in all Athens?”

Probably most of the Athenians went away laughing, as at a good joke. But some must have seen what the old man meant; for Diogenes was, in his own queer way, a sort of prophet among the Greeks. His acted parable was meant to teach a lesson that every nation must learn, or die. It was this: it is not the wealth that comes by commerce that makes a people great and keeps it strong, but honest dealing; not money, but character. That nation, however great its wealth and strong its army, that can no longer produce “honest men”, is doomed.

Sometimes you may see outside a mill or factory the notice, MEN WANTED. Every nation has that notice always displayed for those who have eyes to see it. For what every nation, nay, the whole world, needs most is men – honest men, true men, brave men, good men. For the strength of a nation is its manhood.

What goes to make a man, in the fullest and highest sense of the word? Human nature is a complex thing; and to become an all-round man, one must develop all the sides of one’s nature – physical, intellectual, spiritual or moral.

The physical is the lowest part of human nature, the part it shares with the animal. But it is a mistake to despise or neglect it. As Herbert Spencer said, “The first requisite to success in life is to be a good animal”. So the laws of bodily health must be obeyed.

Still more important is the training and development of the mind. We need a sound mind in a sound body. For this, good education is essential ; and education which is a “drawing-out” of the intellectual faculties.

But the most important of all is the moral nature. It is character that really makes a man. A man who has only a fine physique, is a mere animal. A man who has a fine intellect, but is of vicious character, is a monster. But a good man is God’s noblest creation. Character is all-important ; and character is the only thing that will last.