Character and Conduct – 18 November – Bearing Troubles

ONCE open the door to trouble, and its visits are three-fold;  first, anticipation;  second, in actual presence;  third, in living it over again, Therefore never anticipate trouble, make as little of its presence as possible, forget it as soon as past.

IT is better to employ our minds in bearing the ills we have, than in providing against those which may never befall us.

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

LET us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.

LOWELL

IF you want to be cheerful, jes’ set yer mind on it an’ do it.   Can’t none of us help what traits we start out in life with, but we kin help what we end up with.  When things first got to goin’ wrong with me, I says, ‘Oh, Lord, whatever comes, keep me from gettin’ sour.’…   Since then I’ve made it a practice to put all my worries down in the bottom of my heart, then set on the lid an’ smile.

Lovey Mary, ALICE HEGAN RICK

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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.