Sometimes in the give and take of life we find reason for much misunderstanding, and for anger and annoyance at others⎯and they at us. And such situations frequently lead to feelings of acute...
We often hear the trite expression that there are always two sides to a subject. And one thing that makes quarrels and misunderstandings and differences so difficult to settle is that so often there...
We have quoted from Oliver Cromwell a single searching sentence: “I beseech you…think it possible that you may be mistaken.” Searching men, with searching minds are constantly...
All of us always have unfinished business. Most of us have unfulfilled obligations. Most of us have unfinished things piled up far before us that always weigh on us and worry us – things we never...
One of the very worrisome things that hangs heavily over or heads is a debt that is due⎯or overdue. Paradoxically, it is a worry if we do worry about debt, and it is another kind of worry if we...
There are many opposing opinions as to what is considered to be success. And while some seek to prepare themselves for maximum service, there are some who seem to dedicate themselves to the idea of...
We repeat, that work is a principle and a privilege, and not merely a penalty. The philosophy of being free from work is a false philosophy and the fashion of being free from work is a false...
One of the timeless questions⎯one seemingly never settled⎯is: “What makes people do what they do?” Human nature, we sometimes simply say⎯but human nature is so simple thing to consider,...
In the course of a lifetime, a man may himself get a little out of line, and because he was well taught, because of his solid background, because he knows the difference between right and wrong, he...
There come before us some further facets of the question as to how far can a person safely depart from a principle: How far can he go and still get back when he wants to? At what age is character so...
We must learn from the mistakes of others, because we’ll never live long enough to make them all ourselves.” Part of our heritage is the experience of others. Part of our heritage is the...
In 1866 Carlyle delivered his inaugural address to the students of Edinburgh University, out of his heart and experience, and without a formal talk before him. And from this occasion there came a...
“There are two kinds of books,” said Thomas Carlyle, “good books and bad books…I am not so sure that you are unacquainted, …with this plain fact; but I may remind you that it is...
In a single short sentence Thomas Carlyle suggests a searching subject: “Why tell me that a man is a fine speaker,” he said, “if it is not the truth that he is speaking?” To...
We recall again the comment that the teacher is responsible for the total effect of his teaching; for his every utterance, his innuendo, has its influence on others. In furtherance of this thought,...
No doubt all of us, at times, have experienced a sense of loneliness. But⎯”What if loneliness were everlasting?” Familiar, and frequently quoted, but ever wonderful, are these words said...
From childhood many of us would well remember the story of Chicken Little. She was the character of the oft-told fable who felt something fall on her head when she was out walking one day. Some say...
We were touched and moved in our hearts by the lighter step, the happier look, and the eager lift in her voice. She was no longer young, something short of being called elderly, of unknown age, but...
Songs my mother taught me, In the day long vanish’d, Seldom from her eyelids Were the teardrops banish’d. Now I teach my children Each melodious measure, Oft the teardrops flowing, Oft...
It sometimes seems that almost everyone wants almost all of almost everyone’s time these days. There are so many things to do, so many social functions, so many interests and activities and...