Character and Conduct – 13 May – Duty of Giving Happiness

THE function of culture is not merely to train the powers of enjoyment, but first and supremely for helpful service.

Bishop POTTER

IT was often in George Eliot’s mind and on her lips that the only worthy end of all learning, of all science, of all life, in fact, is that human beings should love one another better.   Culture merely for culture’s sake can never be anything but a sapless root, capable of producing at best a shrivelled branch…   She was cheered by the hope and by the belief in gradual improvement of the mass;  for in her view each individual must find the better part of happiness in helping another.   She often thought it wisest not to raise too ambitious an ideal, especially in young people, but to impress on ordinary natures the immense possibilities of making a small circle brighter and better.   Few are born to do the great work of the world, but all are born to this.   And to the natures capable of the larger effort the field of usefulness will constantly widen.

The Life of George Eliot, J. W. Cross

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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.