Character and Conduct – 25 June – Judging

PERHAPS it were better for most of us to complain less of being misunderstood, and to take more care that we do not misunderstand other people.   It ought to give us pause at a time to remember that each one has a stock of cut-and-dry judgments on his neighbours, and that the chances are that most of them are quite erroneous.   What our neighbour really is we may never know, but we may be pretty certain that he is not what we have imagined, and that many things we have thought of him are quite beside the mark.   What he does we have seen, but we have no idea what may have been his thoughts and intentions.   The mere surface of his character may be exposed, but of the complexity within we have not the faintest idea.   People crammed with self-consciousness and self-conceit are often praised as humble, while shy and reserved people are judged to be proud.   Some whose whole life is one subtle studied selfishness get the name of self-sacrifice, and other silent heroic souls are condemned for want of humanity.

The Potter’s Wheel, Dr. JOHN WATSON

TO weigh other minds by our own is the false scale by which the greater number of us miscalculate all human actions and most human characters.

JOHN OLIVER HOBBES

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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.