And baffled, get up and begin again, So the chase takes up one's life, that's all. 14. How far high failure overleaps the bounds Of low successes! 15. 16. Then welcome each rebuff That turns earth's smoothness rough, Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand, but go! Strive, and hold cheap the strain; Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the throe. Who are we, to spurn, For peace' sake, duty's pointing? Up then, earn 17. They out-talked thee, hissed thee, tore thee? 18. Charge once more then and be dumb! Find thy body by the wall. CHAPTER XLVI DELIGHT IN RIGHT-DOING IS THE ESSENCE OF VIRTUE 1. A man is not good at all unless he takes pleasure in noble deeds. THE JOY OF 2. No one would call a man just who did not take pleasure in doing justice, nor gener ous who took no pleasure in acts of generosity. 3. Compulsory morality is no morality at all. 4. The object of true education is not merely to make people do the right things, but enjoy the right things; not merely pure, but to love purity; not merely just, but to hunger and thirst after justice. 5. The first and last and closest trial question to any living creature is: What do you like? Tell me what you like and I will tell you what you are. 6. This is a spurious goodness which is good for the sake of reward. The child that speaks truth for the sake of the praise of truth, is not truthful. The man who is honest because honesty is the best policy, has not integrity in his heart. He who endeavours to be humble, and holy, and perfect, in order to win heaven, has only a counterfeit religion. 7. Taste is not only a part and an index of morality, it is the only morality. 8. Delight in Right-Doing is the Essence of Virtue To the sentinel That hour is regal when he mounts on guard. 9. The joy of the spirit indicates its strength. 151 10. Man not only may but should bring pleasure and duty in relation to one another; he should obey his reason with joy. 11. Happiness is not the reward of virtue, but is itself virtue. 12. Serene will be our days and bright, 13. I count this as the authentic sign and seal And more glad, until gladness blossoms, bursts CHAPTER XLVII PURITY HUMILITY AND SINGLENESS OF PURPOSE THESE THREE BRING INWARD PEACE 1. Peace is what all desire, but all do not care for the things that pertain unto true peace. KEEP TO H PATH THAT LEADS TO PEACE 2. We would have inward peace, We would have misery cease, Yet will not cease from sin; We want all pleasant ends, but will use no harsh means. 3. As soon as we have seen our plain duty in each thing that presents itself, let us confine ourselves to that, and withdraw ourselves from everything else. LOOK NEITHER TO NOR THE 4. By that means we shall always keep the depths of the soul free and tranquil, and we shall rid ourselves of many useless things which encumber the heart and hinder it from spiritual perfection. 5. How can he abide long in peace who thrusts himself into the cares of others, who seeks occasions abroad, who little or seldom recollects himself within his own breast? 6. Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. 7. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace. 8. I affirm that tranquillity is nothing else than a good ordering of the mind. 9. He that judges aright, and perseveres in it, enjoys a perpetual calm. 10. Life's youngest tides joy-brimming flow The boundless whole Its bounty all doth daily bring. 11. An excellent means of keeping ourselves in an inward quiet and freedom of spirit, is to put an end, at the close of every action, to all further thought about it, by dismissing all the reflections of self-love, whether of selfcomplacency or regret. 12. Peace in this life springs from acquiescence even in disagreeable things, not in an exemption from bearing them. 13. The humble enjoy continual peace, but LOWLINESS in the heart of the proud is envy, and frequent indignation. 14. Think not so much of what thou hast not as of what thou hast; but of the things which thou hast, select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought, if thou hadst them not. |