Character and Conduct – 7 May – Oil and Wine

WHATEVER impatience we may feel towards our neighbour, and whatever indignation our race may rouse in us, we are chained one to another, and, companions in labour and misfortune, have everything to lose by mutual recrimination and reproach.   Let us be silent as to each other’s weakness, helpful, tolerant, nay, tender towards each other!   Or, if we cannot feel tenderness, may we at least feel pity!   May we put away from us the satire which scourges and the anger which brands:  the oil and wine of the good Samaritan are of more avail.   We may make the ideal a reason for contempt;  but it is more beautiful to make it a reason for tenderness.

Amiel’s Journal

IT is always a mistake to paint people blacker than the facts warrant, both because such exaggeration is pretty sure to cause a reaction to the opposite extreme, and also because we are likely to miss the lesson which the errors or misconduct of others should teach us, if we think them so exceptionally wicked that we are ourselves in no danger of following their example.

Life Here and Hereafter, Canon MAcCoLL

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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.