Character and Conduct – 10 August – Friendship

BEWARE lest thy friend learn to tolerate one frailty of thine, and so an obstacle be raised to the progress of thy love.

THOREAU

THAT he had ‘a genius for friendship’ goes without saying, for he was rich in the humility, the patience and the powers of trust, which such a genius implies.

Yet his love had, too, the rarer and more strenuous temper which requires ‘the common aspiration,’ is jealous for a friend’s growth, and has the nerve to criticise.   It is the measure of what he felt friendship to be, that he has defined religion in the terms of it.

Of Henry Drummond, GEORGE ADAM SMITH

ALL men have their frailties, and whoever looks for a friend without imperfection will never find what he seeks.   We love ourselves notwithstanding our faults, and we ought to love our friends in like manner.

CYRUS

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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.