Character and Conduct – 5 August – Friendship

THERE is nothing so bad for man or woman as to live always with their inferiors.   It is a truth so important, that one might well wish to turn aside a moment and urge it, even in its lower aspects, upon the young people who are just making their associations and friendships.   Many a temptation of laziness or pride induces us to draw towards those who do not know as much or are not in some way as strong as we are.   It is a smaller tax upon our powers to be in their society.   But it is bad for us.   I am sure that I have known men, intellectually and morally very strong, the whole development of whose intellectual and moral life has suffered and been dwarfed, because they have only accompanied with their inferiors, because they have not lived with men greater than themselves.   Whatever else they lose, they surely must lose some culture of humility.   If I could choose a young man’s companions, some should be weaker than himself, that he might learn patience and charity;  many should be as nearly as possible his equals, that he might have the full freedom of friendship;  but most should be stronger than he was, that he might for ever be thinking humbly of himself and be tempted to higher things.

PHILLIPS BROOKS

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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.