Character and Conduct – 27 November – Humour

THE sense of humour is the oil of life’s engine.   Without it, the machinery creaks and groans.   No lot is so hard, no aspect of things is so grim, but it relaxes before a hearty laugh.

G, S. MERRIAM

IT was a novel with a purpose, and its purpose was to show that it is only by righteousness that men and nations prevail;  also that there is much that is humorous in life as well as much that is holy, and that healing virtue lies in laughter as well as in prayers and tears.

Isabel Carnaby, ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER

I DARE not tell you how high I rate humour, which is generally most fruitful in the highest and most solemn human spirits.   Dante is full of it, Shakespeare, Cervantes, and almost all the greatest have been pregnant with this glorious power.   You will find it even in the Gospel of Christ.

Tennyson – a Memoir, by his Son

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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.