Abraham Lincoln said, "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

The "blame game" goes back to the beginning. God told Adam and Eve when he placed them in the Garden of Eden that they could have it all, except they were not to eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden.

However, they ate the fruit of that tree, and in the evening, as God walked in the garden, he called for Adam. Adam responded, "Over here, Lord." Then God asked the question, "Adam, did you eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden?" God already knew the answer, but he wanted Adam to respond. Adam, however, did the "manly thing" and replied, "Lord, let me tell you about that woman you gave me!" — and that's where the ball started its long, unending roll. God then asked Eve whether she had eaten the fruit, and Eve passed the ball along and said, "Lord, let me tell you about that snake!" And of course, the snake didn't have a leg to stand on!

Theologically speaking, I know I'm not telling this story perfectly. However, I am not in error when I say each of us must recognize that it is not "his fault, her fault or their fault." Our choices are our responsibility.

To solve the problem, we need to go back to the beginning and, starting in the family, teach our children responsibility. Next, we should pass the baton to the teachers in the schools and insist they continue to teach responsible behavior. Then when our young people have learned their lessons well, they will practice responsibility in their personal lives — and the workplace, as well. When this happens, the responsibility crisis will end, and we'll have a better society as a result. Do your part, and when you do, I'll see you at the top!

Those Famous Sayings

In our country, we have a number of proverbs or wise sayings that have been handed down from generation to generation. For example, "A stitch in time saves nine," "A watched pot never boils," and "Saved by the bell." Many of these sayings have fascinating origins, and when we explore those origins, we not only learn a bit of history but also some practical philosophy and lessons come from them.

One of my favorites is "saved by the bell." This goes back in history to 1696, when a sentry by the name of John Hatfield was on duty at Windsor Castle in England. Sentry duty was taken seriously in those days, and it basically meant staying alert. However, Hatfield was accused of sleeping at his post and neglecting that duty. He was given a trial at which he spoke in his own defense. He claimed that he had not been sleeping and had, in fact, heard the bell of St. Paul's Cathedral 20 miles away in London strike 13 times. This was an unbelievable claim that he made in his own defense, and Hatfield was found guilty. In that day and time, sentries found guilty of dereliction of duty were sentenced to death on the gallows.

A kind or curious — or perhaps both — person thought enough of the unusual nature of Hatfield's story to make some inquiries about his unusual defense. This individual discovered that, indeed, the bell at St. Paul's had struck 13 times. There were others in the community who also had heard and counted those 13 strikes. Hatfield received a reprieve and lived to the ripe old age of 102. He literally was "saved by the bell."

Message: We should be careful about how we convict other people until all the evidence is in. Common sense and fair play demand nothing less. Take this approach, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.