November 22
The secret of the Lord is with them that
Companions of the Way (Morning)fear Him.
IT is true that genius takes its rise out of the mountains of rectitude; that all beauty and power which men covet, are somehow born out of that alpine district; that any extraordinary degree of beauty in man or woman involves a moral charm. Thus, I think, we very slowly admit in another man a higher degree of moral sentiment than our own,—a finer conscience, more impressionable, or which marks minuter degrees; an ear to hear acuter notes of right and wrong than we can. I think we listen suspiciously and very slowly to any evidence on that point.
But once satisfied of such superiority, we set no limit to our expectation of his genius. For such persons are nearer to the secret of God than others; are bathed by sweeter waters; they hear notices—they see visions where others are vacant.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
THE NEW-BORN