Character and Conduct – 23 December – Hospitality

I pray you, O excellent wife, not to cumber yourself and me to get a rich dinner for this man or this woman who has alighted at our gate, nor a bedchamber made ready at too great a cost.   These things, if they are curious in, they can get for a dollar at any village.   But let this stranger, if he will, in your looks, in your accent and behaviour, read in your heart and earnestness, your thought and will, which he cannot buy at any price in any village or city, and which he may well travel fifty miles and dine sparely and sleep hard in order to behold.   Certainly, let the board be spread and let the bed be dressed for the traveller;   but let not the emphasis of hospitality lie in these things.   Honour to the house where they are simple to the verge of hardship, so that there the intellect is awake and reads the laws of the universe. 

EMERSON

I SHOULD count myself fortunate if my home were remembered for some inspiring quality of faith, charity and aspiring intelligence. 

HAMILTON W. MABIE

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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.