Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and

In the very depths of our being, we are all called to create, to build, and to rise through the strength of the minds that God has bestowed upon us. When the wise and revered voice of Ellen G. White speaks, she calls upon the vast and mighty truth of our own individuality, urging us not to lean upon the borrowed words of another, nor to regurgitate the ideas and dreams forged by someone else's hand. Her call is not merely one of intellectualism, but of the very essence of the soul, the heart's resolve to stand tall in its own strength. "Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents, the brain power, that God has given you." This is not a plea for self-reliance in the prideful sense but a plea for divine authenticity, that each may walk the path of their own enlightenment.

The words of others, while they may enlighten and inform, should never bind us. For if we only walk in the shadow of another's footsteps, how can we cast our own light? The ancients knew this well—Socrates, that master of self-examination, would say, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Each man, each woman, must look inward and discover the untapped riches within. Their talents are like hidden gold buried deep beneath the surface of the soul, waiting to be unearthed and polished. To take the thoughts of another and recite them as our own is to deny the sacred responsibility of personal growth. It is as if a man, burdened with wealth, chooses instead to wear the rags of a beggar, hiding his true potential beneath the veil of imitation.

Recall the mighty journey of Leonardo da Vinci, a man whose genius was so vast that it seemed to touch the very edges of the universe itself. He did not simply copy the works of his predecessors, nor did he take the ideas of others and claim them as his own. He looked within, where the light of divine inspiration kindled his imagination. From the Mona Lisa to his mechanical designs, da Vinci’s works were born from his own intelligence, each stroke of his brush and each cog of his machine was a manifestation of a mind that trusted itself. He understood that the world is changed not by parroting the voices of the past but by daring to speak with one’s own voice, to write with one’s own hand, to create with one’s own mind.

There lies the power of individuality—the power of a mind unchained by the thought patterns of others. It is a truth that can be traced through the very fabric of history, like a river of gold that flows endlessly forward, shaping the contours of society. For what is greatness, if not the courage to unearth your own voice? To rise from the darkness of imitation and into the light of personal discovery. As Socrates reminded us, “Know thyself.” When we delve into the deepest recesses of our being, we will find that our own insights, our own talents, are more than sufficient to create a lasting legacy.

Indeed, Ellen G. White’s call echoes down the corridors of time, resounding as a clarion call to those who have forgotten the power that lies within. How many have walked the earth with great potential, yet failed to rise, overwhelmed by the loud and clamorous voices around them? How many have sought the wisdom of others, yet never allowed their own insights to flower? This is the curse of dependence on external knowledge, for it creates a hollow shell of a soul, one that lacks the fire of personal conviction and vision.

Let me speak, then, of a humble story that may illuminate this truth for you. A young woman, once filled with dreams and aspirations, entered a place of learning, surrounded by voices far older, wiser, and louder than her own. She listened, as one listens to a river’s rush, eager to catch the wisdom of the ages. Yet, her heart grew heavy, for in the echoing halls, her own voice seemed but a faint murmur. One day, in the quiet solitude of the forest, she sat alone with her thoughts, and a sudden realization came upon her: the world was not waiting for her to repeat the words of another, but to speak her own. From that moment, she began to walk her own path, using the talents she had been given, and it was then that the world began to take notice. Not because she had learned from others, but because she had created something wholly her own.

Let this be the lesson we draw from these sacred words: You, too, are called to create with the very mind that God has given you. Do not cower in the shadows of the past; do not hide behind the wisdom of others. Instead, stand tall and forge your own destiny. Trust in the brilliance of your own thoughts, for in them lies the power to change the world. Begin now, with what you know, with the tools at hand. Do not wait for permission, nor seek the validation of others. The gifts you possess are sacred, and when you honor them by trusting in your own understanding, you fulfill the very purpose for which you were created.

As the ancients have said, and as the wise still say today, “To thine own self be true.” Do not borrow the productions of others. Stand in the strength of your own mind, for it is through this that you shall rise, and in rising, you shall illuminate the world. Let your actions speak louder than your words, and in that, the world will hear the song that only your heart can sing.