Character and Conduct – 13 April – Temper

CERTAINLY if a bad-tempered man can be admirably virtuous, he must be so under extreme difficulties.  I doubt the possibility that a high order of character can co-exist with a temper like Touchwood’s.  For it is of the nature of such temper to interrupt the formation of healthy mental habits, which depend on a growing harmony between perception, conviction, and impulse.  There may be good feelings, good deeds – for a human nature may pack endless varieties and blessed inconsistencies in its windings – but it is essential to what is worthy to be called high character, that it may be safely calculated on, and that its qualities shall have taken the form of principles or laws habitually, if not perfectly, obeyed.  If a man frequently passes unjust judgments, takes up false attitudes, intermits his acts of kindness with rude behaviour or cruel words, and falls into the consequent vulgar error of supposing that he can make amends by laboured agreeableness, I cannot consider such courses any the less ugly because they are ascribed to ‘temper!’  Especially I object to the assumption that his having a fundamentally good disposition is either an apology or a compensation for his bad behaviour.

GEORGE ELIOT.

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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.