Character and Conduct – 4 December – Holidays

THERE are only two rules for a successful holiday;  the first is to earn it, the second is to have just enough holiday to make the prospect of work pleasant.

Periods of rest we all need, but labour and not rest is the synonym of life.   From these periods of rest we should return with a new appetite for the duties of common life.   If we return dissatisfied, enervated, without heart for work, we may be sure our holiday has been a failure.   If we return with the feeling that it is good to plunge into the mid-stream of life again, we may know by this sign that we are morally braced and strengthened by our exodus.   The wise man will never allow his holiday to be a time of mere idleness.

He will turn again to the books that interest him, he will touch the fringe of some science for which his holiday gives him opportunity, or he will plunge into physical recreation, and shake off the evil humours of the body in active exercise.   The failure of holidays lies very much in the fact that nothing of this sort is attempted.   The holiday is simply a series of aimless days, and the natural result is ennui.   The supreme purpose of a holiday should be to regain possession of ourselves.   He who does this comes back from his holiday as from a sanctuary.

W. J. DAWSON

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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 is that readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.