Amiel's Journal.
AUGUST 1
"Christians are very often liable not, perhaps, to put obstacles into the way of efforts to do right so much as to refuse them the needful help, without which they have little chance of succeeding. To look coldly on while our fellows are struggling in the waves of this evil sea and never to hold out a hand or to say a word of encouragement, is very often most cruelly to depress all energy of repentance. The strong virtue that can go on its own way without being shaken by any ordinary temptation too often forgets the duty due to the weakness close to its side. By stern treatment of faults which were yet much struggled against, by cold refusal to acknowledge any except plainly successful efforts, by rejecting the approaches of those who have not yet learnt the right way, but are really wishing in their secret hearts to learn it, those who are strong not unfrequently do much harm to those who are weak."
Bishop Temple.
"The best we can do for each other is to remove unnecessary obstacles, and the worst—to weaken any of the motives which urge us to strive."
The Standard of Life, Mrs. Bernard Bosanquet.
AUGUST 2
"Even in ordinary life, contact with nobler natures arouses the feeling of unused power and quickens the consciousness of responsibility."