I am suggesting that as we go through life, we 'accentuate the

Hear the gentle yet commanding words of Gordon B. Hinckley, spoken with the cadence of a shepherd guiding his people: “I am suggesting that as we go through life, we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort.” This is not a call to naïve cheerfulness, but a summons to cultivate the noble art of seeing with eyes of light. For in every field where weeds grow, there are flowers; in every heart shadowed by weakness, there are sparks of strength. To accentuate the positive is to water those flowers and kindle those sparks until they shine brightly.

To accentuate the positive is to choose deliberately the lens through which we view the world. Human nature leans easily toward criticism, mockery, and cynicism—these are the low-hanging fruits of the mind. But to look deeper for the good requires patience, humility, and discipline. It demands that we silence the biting tongue and instead open the mouth to bless, to praise, to uplift. Such speech not only transforms those who receive it, but sanctifies the soul of the one who gives it. For words are seeds, and the ones we sow will return to us in harvest—whether of bitterness or of beauty.

The ancients understood this truth well. The Hebrew proverb declares: “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” In Confucian teaching, respect for others was seen as the root of harmony, and praise of virtue the soil in which righteousness grows. Even the Stoics, often thought cold, warned against cynicism, teaching that to honor the effort of another, even when imperfect, was to strengthen the bonds of community. Thus Hinckley’s call is not a new invention, but an echo of wisdom carried across ages.

History bears luminous witness. Consider the example of Abraham Lincoln during the turbulent years of civil war. Surrounded by critics and betrayal, he might have let sarcasm and scorn dominate his speech. Instead, he chose words that accentuated the positive, declaring in his second inaugural address: “With malice toward none, with charity for all.” His commitment to praising the virtue and effort even of his enemies helped heal a torn nation and set a path toward reconciliation. His greatness was not only in his leadership, but in his refusal to let bitterness guide his voice.

Yet Hinckley’s teaching is also a challenge. It is easier to insult than to encourage, easier to mock than to praise. Sarcasm feels powerful, but it corrodes both speaker and listener. Compliments, on the other hand, cost nothing but enrich everyone they touch. To accentuate the positive is therefore an act of courage, a choice to stand against the prevailing winds of cynicism and cultivate instead a culture of encouragement, where virtue is noticed, effort is honored, and goodness is celebrated.

The lesson for us is clear: if we wish to transform our communities, our families, and even our own hearts, we must begin with our speech and our sight. Look for the good in those around you. Praise not only great accomplishments but also the small steps of effort, the quiet acts of virtue that go unseen. Still the voice of sarcasm, for though it amuses briefly, it wounds deeply. And speak instead words that heal, words that build, words that call forth the best in others.

Practical steps follow from this wisdom. Each day, choose one person to compliment sincerely, one effort to praise, one virtue to acknowledge. When tempted to criticize, pause, and search instead for what is worthy of encouragement. Keep a journal of gratitude, training your heart to notice blessings rather than injuries. In conversations, let your words lean more toward endorsement than insult. Slowly, you will find that by accentuating the positive, not only do others flourish—you yourself become lighter, freer, more filled with joy.

So remember Hinckley’s counsel: “As we go through life, let us ‘accentuate the positive.’” Let us look deeper for the good, silence the tongues of insult, and speak more generously of virtue and effort. For in such choices lies the power to heal divisions, to uplift the weary, and to plant in the hearts of others seeds of courage. And when we depart from this world, may it be said of us not that we tore down with our words, but that we lifted many, for we chose always to accentuate the positive.