Character and Conduct – 4 April – Irritability

THE philosophy of life, then, as far as this matter is concerned, must consist of two things:  first, to keep ourselves out of irritable bodily states; and, second, to understand and control these states, when we cannot ward them off.  Of course, the first of these is the most important;  and yet, of all things, it seems to be least looked into and understood.  We find abundant rules for the government of the tongue and temper;  it is a slough into which, John Bunyan hath it, cartloads of wholesome instructions have been thrown;  but how to get and keep that healthy state of brain, stomach, and nerves which takes away the temptation to ill-temper and anger is a subject which moral and religious teachers seem scarcely to touch upon…

We have a common saying, that this or that person is soon used up.  Now most nervous, irritable states of temper are the mere physical result of a used-up condition.  The person has overspent his nervous energy. – like a man who should eat up on Monday the whole food which was to keep him for a week, and go growling and faint through the other days;  or the quantity of nervous force which was wanted to carry on the whole system in all its parts is seized on by some one monopolising portion, and used up to the loss and detriment of the rest.

Little Foxes, HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.

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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.