Character and Conduct – 12 January – Present Circumstances

EVERYWHERE and at all times it is in thy power piously to acquiesce in thy present condition, and to behave justly to those who are about thee, and to exert thy skill upon thy present thoughts, that nothing shall steal into them without being well examined.

MARCUS AURELIUS

SUCH as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind;  for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.   Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these:  for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well.   But he must live in a palace;-  well then, he can also live well in a palace.

MARCUS AURELIUS

OF nothing can we be more sure than this:  that, if we cannot sanctify our present lot, we could sanctify no other.

MARTINEAU

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These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing the her readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.