Precept and Practice – JUNE 22 – An Imperturbable Demeanour

Noisy go the small waters, silent goes the vast ocean. 

Buddha

Deep streams run still – and why?   Not because there are no obstructions, but because they altogether overflow those stones or rocks round which the shallow stream has to make its noisy way;  ‘tis the full life that saves us from the little noisy troubles of life. 

William Smith

An imperturbable demeanour comes from perfect patience.   Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunder-storm.

R. L. Stevenson (An Inland Voyage)

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From the Introduction to Precept and Practice

The kindly welcome given to my other little books, ‘Being and Doing’ and ‘Character and Conduct,’ must be my excuse for adding another collection of extracts to the number now in circulation.

The quotations are gathered from the books of many earnest thinkers, and deal with Life in all its length and breadth, with ourselves, our characters, our plain unvarnished faults and weaknesses, our often untoward circumstances, and with all that drags us down;-  with our purposes, our religion, our love and friendships, and with all that uplifts us;-  with our relation to others, our influence and responsibilities, and finally with those stages of our journey which bring us to the Road’s Last Turn and to the Silent Land.

CONSTANCE  M. WHISHAW