BREVITIES
Lines on observing a sunbeam glittering on a mass of snow:
“Mark, in yon beam the world’s destructive guile,
It melts us into ruin with a smile.”
When Socrates was asked what a man gains by telling lies, he answered, “not to be believed when he speaks the truth.”
I do not call the sod under my feet my country. But language, religion, laws, government, blood,—identity in these makes men of one country.—Coleridge.
The observation of hospitality, even towards an enemy, is inculcated by a Hindu author: “The sandal tree imparts its fragrance even to the axe that hews it.”
An Eastern sage being desired to inscribe on the ring of his Sultan a motto, equally applicable to prosperity or adversity, returned it with these words engraved upon it: “And this, too, shall pass away.”
Affection, like melancholy, magnifies trifles; but the magnifying of the one is like looking through a telescope at heavenly objects; that of the other, like enlarging monsters with a microscope.
It is very piteous to look at blind people; but it is observed that they are generally cheerful because others pay them so much attention; and one would suffer a good deal to be continually treated with love.—Leigh Hunt.
Yet courage, soul! Nor hold thy strength in vain,
In hope o’ercome the steeps God sets for thee;
Beyond the Alpine summits of great pain
Lieth thine Italy.—Rose Terry Cooke.
A tender child of Summers three,
Seeking her little bed at night,
Paused on the dark stair timidly;
“Oh, mother! take my hand,” said she,
“And then the dark will all be light.”
Whittier.
Books are the legacies that genius leaves to mankind, to be delivered down from generation to generation, as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn.—Addison.
Virtue and talents, though allowed their due consideration, yet are not enough to procure a man a welcome wherever he comes. Nobody contents himself with rough diamonds, or wears them so. When polished and set, then they give a lustre.—Locke.
Pierpont says of the ballot,—
“A weapon that comes down as still
As snowflakes fall upon the sod;
But executes a freeman’s will,
As lightning does the will of God.
Reason is the triumph of the intellect, faith of the heart; and whether the one or the other shall best illumine the dark mysteries of our being, they only are to be despaired of who care not to explore.—Schouler.
If there be no nobility of descent, all the more indispensable is it that there should be nobility of ascent—a character in them that bear rule so fine and high and pure, that as men come within the circle of its influence they involuntarily pay homage to that which is the one preeminent distinction, the Royalty of Virtue.—Bishop Potter.
“Love gives itself; and, if not given,
No genius, beauty, worth, nor wit,
No gold of earth, no gem of heaven
Is rich enough to purchase it.”
Alexander Smith.
Who is there in this world who has not, hidden
Deep in his heart, a picture, clear and faint,
Veiled, sacred, to the outer world forbidden,
O’er which he bends, and murmurs low, “My Saint?”
Be good, my dear, and let who will, be clever;
Do noble things, not dream them all day long;
And so make life, death, and the vast Forever
One great, sweet song.—Charles Kingsley.
Do right, though pain and anguish be thy lot,
Thy heart will cheer thee when the pain’s forgot;
Do wrong for pleasure’s sake,—then count thy gains,—
The pleasure soon departs, the sin remains.
The wisest man in a comedy is he that plays the fool, for a man must be no fool to give a diverting representation of folly.—S. Viar, ix. 1.