Those men and women who see no visions and have not perception of that which is invisible, but keep their eyes steadfastly fixed on things too small to be considered at all, magnify trifles till their spiritual microscope transforms a midge into a monster, and a drop of rain into a regular witch’s cauldron.
My beloved brethren, if we saw ourselves as God sees us, we should be willing to be anywhere, to be silent when others speak, to be passed by in the world’s crowd, and thrust aside to make way for others.
…..Be more under His influence than under any other influence. Ten minutes spent in His society every day, ay, two minutes if it be face to face, and heart to heart, will make the whole day different.
There are a great many people in the world whose first and last thought in life is of what is due to them…..
Within, in the secret soul, carefully hidden from men – what do you keep which weigh down your activity for God, which checks your feet when you wish to help mankind as Jesus helped them? Small and petty jealousies which gnaw away your high endeavour, which eat the heart out of your ideals and make mean your imagination; dog-faced memories of injuries done to you… Fling them off the shoulders of your life; fling them off your heart.
Banish the trifling, oh so trifling matter, by things more deserving of attention, and in a couple of months you will wonder why it upset you so.
it. It may be very absurd, nay very immoral, to be teased by trifles; but alas while you remain in the dust, reason as you may, it will annoy you; and there is no help for it, but to retire into a higher and grassier region, where the sultry road is visible from afar.
The only letters that can wait are those which provoke a hot answer.
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much, who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Carlyle pointed out that crabbedness, pride, obstinacy, and affectation are, at bottom, want of strength – weakness.
Suffolk Vicar 