Character and Conduct – 7 June – Calumny

ANY man of many transactions can hardly expect to go through life without being subject to one or two very severe calumnies.   Amongst these many transactions, some few will be with very ill-conditioned people, with very ignorant people, or, perhaps, with monomaniacs;  and he cannot expect, therefore, but that some narrative of a calumnious kind will have its origin in one of these transactions.   It may be fanned by any accidental breeze of malice or ill-fortune, and become a very serious element of mischief to him.   Such a thing is to be looked upon as pure misfortune coming in the ordinary course of events;  and the way to treat it is to deal with it as calmly and philosophically as with any other misfortune.   As some one has said, the mud will rub off when it is dry, and not before.   The drying will not always come in the calumniated man’s time, unless in favourable seasons, which he cannot command.

HELPS

IF any one tells you such a one has spoken ill of you, do not refute them in that particular;  but answer, had he known all my vices, he had not spoken only of that one.

EPICTETUS

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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 them here readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.