Character and Conduct – 14 August – Friendship

THERE are two elements that go to the composition of friendship, each so sovereign that I can detect no superiority in either, no reason why either should be first named.   One is Truth…   the other is Tenderness.

EMERSON

THE essence of friendship is entireness, a total magnanimity and trust…   A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere.   Before him I may think aloud.

EMERSON

PEOPLE do not sufficiently remember that in every relation of life, as in the closest one of all, they ought to take one another ‘for better for worse.’   That, granting the tie of friendship, gratitude, esteem, be strong enough to have existed at all, it ought, either actively or passively, to exist for ever.   And seeing we can at best know our neighbour, companion, or friend as little, as alas! we often find he knoweth of us, it behoveth us to trust him with the most patient fidelity, the tenderest forbearance;  granting unto all his words and actions that we do not understand, the utmost limit of faith that common sense and Christian justice will allow.   Nay, these failing, is there not left Christian charity? which being past believing and hoping, still endureth all things.

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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.