The character of a believer reflects the inner moral and spiritual qualities shaped by God's grace, evident in integrity, patience, and godly conduct (Galatians 5:22-23). Christian preaching uses vivid images like building, sculpting, and mirrors to illustrate how character is gradually formed and revealed through consistent actions and trials (James 1:2-4). This character shapes a believer's reputation and witness to the world.
One can build noble character from brokenness despite others' actions or heritage.
In a great cathedral in Europe, there is a window made by an apprentice out of the bits of stained glass that were thrown away as worthless refuse when the other windows were made; this is the most beautiful window of all. You can build a noble character for yourself, in spite of all the hurts and injuries done consciously or unconsciously by others, with the fragments of the broken hopes, joys and the lost opportunities that lie strewn about your feet. No matter how badly others have hurt and marred you, they cannot prevent you from building a beautiful character for yourself; conversely, others by their best work cannot cause you to build a beautiful character. The fine character of your father or mother is not yours; you've got to build your own.
True character is chosen and maintained by grace, not by others' opinions or vengeance.
A busybody is often interested in telling only half the truth. It's true that Christ kept company with publicans and sinners, not because He loved and practiced their sin but so that He could influence and win them. A defamatory article about a Christian appeared in a newspaper. It was really terrible. "You must sue him," a friend said. "No," was the answer. "I shall try to set him straight. I'm afraid if I sue him I shall do something that is improper. I learned early in life, and from long experience, that man's character can only be harmed by himself. The first step for me to win my detractor is to overcome my own passion for vengeance." Reputation is what other people think and say of you, but character is what you yourself decide it shall be. If you belong to Christ, then your decision is to be like Him-and by His grace you can be. The Good Employer
A business man, who had a thousand workers in his employ, was once asked by a preacher, "How are you getting on with your men?" "Oh," he said, "I have no trouble." And that was at a time when there was great trouble in the labor market. "But haven't you had any strikes?" "Oh, no," he said, "I never had any trouble." "What plan do you pursue?" "All my men," he said, "know every year how matters stand. Every little while I call them together and say, 'Now, boys, last year I made so much-this year I made less; so you see I can't pay you as much as I did last year. Now, I want to know what you think I ought to have as a percentage out of this establishment, and what wages I ought to give you. You know I put all my energy into this business, risked everything and put all my fortune into it. What do you really think I ought to have and you ought to have?' By the time we come out of that consultation, we are unanimous; there has never been an exception. When we prosper, we all prosper together; when we suffer, we all suffer together; my men and I share all our problems together."
Envy destroys the envious, illustrated by a wrestler crushed by a statue he hated.
An incident is related in Greek history of a wrestler who was so envious of Theagenes, the prince of wrestlers, that he could not be consoled in any way. After Theagenes died, a statue of him was erected in a public place. His envious antagonist went out every night and wrestled with the statue, until one night he threw it over. The statue fell on him and crushed him to death. No Time for Envy
Many Christians are like that person who, one day, looked extremely sad. One who knew him well said, "Either some great evil has happened to him, or some great good to another." It has been very aptly said, "The man who keeps busy helping the man below him will not have time to envy the man above him; and there may not be anyone above him." Be Not High-Minded
A story is told of a watch which became dissatisfied with its little sphere in a lady's pocket. It envied Big Ben, the great tower clock in London. One day, as it passed over Westminster Bridge with its mistress, the little watch was heard to say, "I wish I could be up there. I could then serve the multitude." "You shall have your opportunity, little watch," said a voice. Magically the watch was drawn up to the tower by a slender thread. When it reached the top, its mistress said to it, "Where are you, little watch? I cannot see you." Nor could anybody else. Its elevation became its annihilation. A Wish Granted
A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big, beautiful shell in which the lobster lived. "What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place," whined the little snail. "Oh, wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell!"
In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster walk right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty lobster shell lay neglected on the beach the snail said, "Now I shall have my wish." And he boasted to all his friends that he was going to take up residence in a grand palace.
The birds and the animals then watched the snail pull himself loose from his own little shell and proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell. He huffed, puffed, blew, and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the large, empty shell was so cold.
A wise old crow then said to the younger crows, "You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!"
Godly men exhibit integrity, courage, and character above worldly success and compromise.
Men and boys:
THE WORLD NEEDS MEN
...who cannot be bought;
...whose word is their bond;
...who put character above wealth;
...who are larger than their vocations;
...who do not hesitate to take chances;
...who will not lose their identity in a crowd;
...who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
...who will make no compromise with wrong;
...whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
...who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it;"
...who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
...who do not believe that shrewdness and cunning are the best qualities for winning success;
...who are not ashamed to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
...who can say "no" with emphasis, although the rest of the world says "yes."
God, make me this kind of man.
Good character is more important than outward appearance.
Socrates, that great father of philosophy, advised young men to carry a mirror. If they were good looking, they should remind themselves that an ugly life was out of keeping with good looks. If their appearance was not attractive, they were told to remember that handsome actions offset ugly looks.
Vile speech defiles the heart and ruins character, unlike material things that can be replaced.
An English nobleman once visited Josiah Wedgwood to see how he made his legendary china and pottery. A young apprentice was instructed to give the nobleman a tour of the factory. The nobleman did not believe in God and was sacrilegious, foul-mouthed, and consistently ridiculed the Bible during the tour. At first the young apprentice was shocked but after a while he began to laugh when the man made his cynical remarks. Josiah Wedgwood was greatly disturbed by this, especially when he saw how his young apprentice was being influenced by this wealthy nobleman. Later the atheist asked if he could purchase a particularly expensive vase. As he handed it to the nobleman, Wedgwood deliberately let it crash to the floor. With a vile oath the nobleman angrily said, "That is the one I really wanted and now it is shattered by your carelessness." Josiah Wedgwood replied, "Sir, there are things more precious than any vase-things that can never be restored once they are ruined. I can make another vase, but you can never give back to my helper the pure heart you have defiled by your vile language and sacrilegious talk!"
God's record of sin is impartial and unchangeable, regardless of repentance afterward.
The first mate on a certain vessel, yielding to temptation, became drunk for the first time in his life. The captain entered in the ship's log, "Mate drunk today." The mate implored the captain to remove it from the record, saying if the ship's owners saw it he would lose his post, and the captain well knew it was his first offense. But the obdurate captain refused, saying, "This is the fact, and into the log it goes." Some days afterward, the mate was keeping the log. After giving the latitude and longitude, the run for the day, the wind and the sea, he made this entry: "Captain sober today." The indignant captain protested, saying that it would leave an altogether false impression in the minds of the owners of the vessel, as if it were an unusual thing for him to be sober. But the mate answered as the captain had, "This is the fact, and into the log it goes."
A believer's consistent godly character shapes their reputation and witness to others.
What kind of reputation do you have? When people speak of you, are they saying kind things? Jesus honored that unselfish woman who anointed him with perfume by including mention of her good deed in the gospels. She was well thought of by her Lord. She had a good reputation.
How others perceive us is usually established by our consistent behavior. We need to live such honorable lives that even when someone speaks ill of us, others will not believe it of us. We also need to conduct our lives in such a manner that it will be easy for others to say kind words to us.
There are people who make life difficult for others. One such a person lives such a life that it will be hard for the speaker at his funeral to find something about his life worthy of mentioning. Sad.
Even Christians can live such distraught lives that they are looked on as trouble makers, boat rockers and negative knells. Though we study our Bibles, worship our God, and pray fervently, just how do neighbors and friends consider us? Are we known for being faithfully involved and supportive of the church's work, or do we have the reputation of being hard to please and a terror to live with?
If someone were asked to deliver a eulogy for you, what could easily be told "in your memory"? "He (or she) was a warm, gracious, faithful, zealous, dedicated, caring, thoughtful Christian," or "He (or she) was anxious, unhappy, critical, selfish, uninvolved, bitter, unloving, opinionated and socially obnoxious"? One cannot build a noble reputation on what he intends to do some day. One's reputation is affirmed and established daily.
Patient endurance under trial reveals the authenticity of a Christian's faith.
An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate. He told the young man to come to his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man went at six in the morning to be examined, and the examiner kept him sitting in the room until ten. Then he went down to him and said abruptly, "Can you write your name? Do you know what your name is?" "Yes, sir." He put him through a series of questions of that kind, and then went to the mission board and said, "He will do. I tried his patience for four hours, and he did not break down; I then insulted him, and he did not lose his temper. He will do." If a man answers all abuses with magnanimity, patience, fortitude, and gentleness, you can depend upon it, Christ's love has conquered his heart. His Christianity is vindicated by the very quality of his character.
Abraham Lincoln's life stories reveal character and leadership lessons.
Abraham Lincoln's stories and speeches; in one volume, complete New (1897) edition, handsomely illustrated; containing the many witty, pointed and unequaled stories as told by Mr. Lincoln, including Early life stories, Professional life stories, White House and War stories; also presenting the full text of the popular Speeches of Mr. Lincoln on the great questions of the age, including his "First Political Speech," "Rail-Splitting Speech," "Great Debate with Douglas," and his Wonderful Speech at Gettysburg, etc., etc.; and including his two great Inaugurals, with many grand illustrations. An instructive and valuable book; 477 pages.
We should use others' lives as mirrors to find examples for our own Christian imitation.
My advice is to consult the lives of other men as we would a looking-glass, and from thence fetch examples for our own imitation. Terence.
Respond to slander with calm, exemplary life and kindness to prove innocence.
1. Despise it. To seem disturbed at it is the way to make it believed; and stabbing your defamer will not prove you innocent. 2. Live an exemplary life, and then your general good character will overpower it. 3. Speak tenderly of every one, even of your defamer, and, by so doing, you will show the world that you are innocent.
Critics often lack the courage and heart they demand from others.
Plutarch tells us of an idle and effeminate Etrurian, who found fault with the manner in which Themistocles had conducted a recent campaign. "What," said the hero in reply, "have you, too, something to say about war, who are like the fish that has a sword, but no heart?" He is always the severest censor on the merits of others who has the least worth of his own.
— E. L. Magoon
Character is revealed by actions and appearance; be what you wish to appear.
Actions, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character. Lavater. — The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. Socrates. — A man's character is like a shadow, which sometimes follows, and sometimes precedes him, and which is occasionally longer, occasionally shorter, than he is. From the French. — There can be no kernel in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes. Shakspeare.
Character is shaped gradually by repeated acts, reflecting God or evil.
Did you ever watch a sculptor slowly fashioning a human countenance? It is not moulded at once. It is not struck out at a single blow. It is painfully and laboriously wrought. A thousand blows rough-east it. Ten thousand chisels polish and perfect it, put in the fine touches, and bring out the features and expression. It is a work of time; but at last the full likeness comes out, and stands fixed and unchanging in the solid marble. So does a man carve out his own moral likeness. Every day he adds something to the work. A thousand acts of thought and will and effort shape the features and expressions of the soul. Habits of love, piety, and truth, habits of falsehood, passion, or goodness, silently mould and fashion it, till at length it wears the likeness of God, or the image of a demon. Oxenden.
Studying Scripture develops mind and character uniquely and profoundly.
An English barrister who was accustomed to train students for the practice of law, and who was not himself a religious man, was once asked why he put students, from the very first, to the study and analysis of the most difficult parts of the Sacred Scriptures? "Because," said he, "there is nothing else like it, in any language, for the development of mind and character." Dr. Haven.
True equanimity maintains peace amid life's ups and downs like resilient aquatic plants.
The equanimity which a few persons preserve through the diversities of prosperous and adverse life reminds me of certain aquatic plants, which spread their tops on the surface of the water, and with wonderful elasticity keep the surface still if the water swells, or if it falls. J. Foster.
Excellence in character is about completeness and virtue, not size or status.
The humblest trade has in it elbow-room for all the virtues. That huckster can be true and honest and honorable: what more can Rothschild be? The excellence of a circle lies in its roundness, not its bigness. The rim of a threepenny-bit is a true circle, and would not be mended, but only magnified, if swelled till it equalled in size the tire of a cart-wheel, or dilated till it touched the outline of a planet.
— S. Coley
Character forms drop by drop, pure thoughts produce beauty, impure thoughts cause deformity.
Have you ever watched the icicle as it formed? Have you noticed how it froze, one drop at a time, until it was a foot long, or more? If the water was clean, the icicle remained clear, and sparkled brightly in the sun; but, if the water was slightly muddy, the icicle looked foul, and its beauty was spoiled. Just so our characters are formed. One little thought or feeling at a time adds its influence. If each thought be pure and right, the soul will be lovely, and will sparkle with happiness; but, if impure and wrong, there will be deformity and wretchedness.
A person's integrity influences decisions and earns trust and respect.
John Dickinson, Esq., of Birmingham, was often called, by way of distinction, "the peacemaker." The equity of his decisions was rarely impeached. If John Dickinson had any thing to do with a matter, then it must be right.
Families can inherit godly or sinful legacies affecting generations' character.
An old man died a few years ago in the Massachusetts State Prison. He was seventy-six years old, and had spent the last eight years of his life in a cell in that gloomy jail. His wife for years had been a prisoner there too, and so had his daughter, and seven of his sons. Were not "the iniquities of the father visited upon the children"? In that same State, seventy years ago, a good minister died, who for forty-one years had been a beloved pastor over the same church. He was the fourteenth eldest son of that same name and family who had been a preacher of the gospel. Since his death, one hundred of his descendants have been Christians, and eight of his sons and grandsons have also been ministers. Through that blessed family, for many long years, the Great Father of love has been "showing mercy to thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments."
Integrity and goodness give true power and influence beyond talents or eloquence.
Benjamin Franklin attributed his success as a public man, not to his talents, or his power of speaking, — for these were but moderate, — but to his known integrity of character. "Hence it was," he says, "that I had so much weight with my fellow-citizens. I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in my language; and yet I generally carried my point." Character creates confidence in men in high stations as well as in human life. It was said of the first Emperor Alexander of Russia, that his personal character was equivalent to a constitution. During the wars of the Fronde, Montaigne was the only man among the French gentry who kept his castle-gate unbarred; and it is said of him that his personal character was worth more to him than a regiment of horse. That character is power, is true in a much higher sense than that knowledge is power. Mind without heart, intelligence without conduct, cleverness without goodness, are powers, if they may be powers, only for mischief. We may be instructed or amused by them; but it is sometimes as difficult to admire them as it would be to admire the dexterity of a pickpocket, or the horsemanship of a highwayman. Truthfulness, integrity, and goodness—qualities that hang out on any man's breath—form the essence of manly character, or, as one of our writers has it, "that inbred loyalty unto virtue that can serve her without livery." When Stephen of Colonna fell into the hands of his base assailants, and they asked him, in derision, "Where is your fortress?"—"Here!" was his bold reply, placing his hand upon his heart. It is in misfortune that the character of the upright man shines forth with the greatest lustre; and, when all else fails, he takes a stand upon his integrity and courage.
— Dr. Haren
Good character is priceless and profitable, even to those who undervalue it.
Duke Chartres used to boast, that no one could have less real regard for character than himself; yet he would gladly give twenty thousand pounds for a good one, because he could immediately make double that sum by means of it. Colton.
A man's character defends his reputation better than public vindication.
Tell Brother — to take no notice of the attacks. A man's CHARACTER will take care of his REPUTATION, and he need not fear the malicious attacks of his enemies. It is never well for a man publicly to vindicate himself from charges which the whole tenor of his life contradicts. Those who know the man do not need the vindication, and those who don't know him will not care enough about it to read what he may write. Dr. Wayland.
True contempt shows superiority by conquering resentment rather than seeking revenge.
Contempt naturally implies a man's esteeming of himself greater than the person whom he contemns: he, therefore, that slights, that contemns, an affront, is properly superior to it; and he conquers an injury who conquers his resentments of it. Socrates, being kicked by an ass, did not think it a revenge proper for Socrates to kick the ass again. Dr. South.
Anger reveals who is wrong in an argument more than knowledge does.
A cobbler at Leyden, who used to attend the public disputations held at the academy, was once asked if he understood Latin. "No," replied the mechanic; "but I know who is wrong in the argument."—"How?" replied his friend. "Why, by seeing who is angry first."
Neglect in dress often reflects a neglect in personal conduct.
Dress has a moral effect upon the conduct of mankind. Let any gentleman find himself with dirty boots, soiled neckcloth, and a general negligence of dress, he will, in all probability, find a corresponding disposition by negligence of address.
— Sir J. Barrington
Laudable ambition and emulation are necessary for achieving excellence and greatness.
Although there may be some degree of pride in emulation, yet a laudable ambition should always be encouraged, especially in youth; for, without this, they will never rise to eminence in any thing. When we think of some of the greatest generals, historians, or poets, what was it but emulation that brought them to excel others? In short, without emulation, we sink into meanness or mediocrity: for nothing great or excellent can be done without it.
— J. Beaumont
We should emulate others' virtues, not their faults or failings.
We should look upon the merits and virtues of men, to emulate and excel them; not upon their blemishes and faults, to conform to them, or to rejoice over their possessors.
A minister was remembered more for his walk than his preaching, showing character's impact.
At Oxford, some twenty years ago, a tutor of one of the colleges limped in his walk. Stopping one day last summer at a railway station, he was accosted by a well-known politician, who recognized him, and asked if he was not the chaplain of the college at such a time, naming the year. The doctor replied, that he was. "I was there," said his interrogator; "and I knew you by your limp."—"Well," said the doctor, "it seems my limping made a deeper impression on you than my preaching."—"Ah, doctor!" was the reply: "it is the highest compliment you can pay a minister to say he is known by his walk rather than by his conversation."
Children imitate godly parental example, showing the power of holy conversation and godliness.
A mother relates the following: "As I was about to enter my nursery, to look after my little ones, I observed the youngest, a boy three years of age, looking over a book, which he had taken from a shelf, resembling a family Bible used before morning and evening prayer. Struck with the unusual solemnity of his manner, I watched his movements. With great precision and apparent devotion, he went through the exercise of reading and singing, and kneeling for prayer, in imitation of his father's daily example. And never was manner, voice, or gesture more properly copied. Trilling as was this circumstance, so deep and solemn was the impression made upon my mind, that to this time I feel myself mentally exclaiming, 'What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness!'"
Example gives life and power to precepts, making them active and transformative.
A system of precepts, though exquisitely compacted, is, in comparison, but a skeleton,—a dry, meagre, lifeless bulk; exhibiting nothing of person, place, time, manner, degree, wherein chiefly the flesh and blood, the color and graces, the life and soul of things, consist, whereby they please, effect, and move us: but example imparts thereto a goodly corpulency, a life, a motion; renders it conspicuous and active, transforming its national universality into the reality of singular subsistence. Dr. Barrow.
Justin Martyr was drawn to Christianity by the godly lives and prayers of early believers.
Justin Martyr confesses, that he left philosophy, and became a Christian scholar, through the admiration that he had to behold the innocent and godly lives of the primitive Christians; hearing them pray unto God for the good and welfare of those, who, to the utmost of their power, sought their ruin. Spencer.
A father's example of breaking Sabbath travel became a stumbling block to his child's faith.
Reproved. A gentleman engaged in a large manufacturing concern was in the practice of taking frequent journeys in connection with his business; and, in order to hasten his return to his family, he not unfrequently travelled on the evenings of the Lord's
Day. His little boy, on one of these occasions, said to his mamma, "How is it that dear papa, who is such a good man, travels on Sunday?"
— "My dear, it is because he has so much to do.
If he acted otherwise, he would not have 'a minute to spare' for his family." — "Mamma, does God allow us to break his commandments when it seems necessary to do so?" On his return, Mrs. M. related to her husband the child's remarks. "My dear, it is the last time.
Tell my boy I stand corrected. I trust, I shall never again do what may prove a stumblingblock to our children. They shall never have to say that their father's example led them astray."
Example is self-propagating, spreading influence from generation to generation.
Self-propagating. Example is like the press: a thing done is the thought printed; it may be repeated if it cannot be recalled; it has gone forth with a self-propagating power, and may run to the ends of the earth, and descend from generation to generation. H. Melvill.
A soldier's steadfast refusal to drink or gamble influenced many comrades to abandon those sins.
Triumph of. A soldier in a Massachusetts regiment was often asked by his comrades to join them in "taking a drink"
or "a game of cards." But he steadily refused, until it became a sort of joke to solicit him. Finally, angered by his quiet "No,"
one asked him why he declined mingling with them in these pleasures, and inquired if he considered himself "too good" to take a social glass with his fellows. "Not too good,"
he replied pleasantly; "but I promised my old father and mother that I would never touch a card or drink a glass of liquor in camp."
His companions ridiculed him with fearful oaths; but he held his peace: and, finding he would not retaliate, they gradually ceased to annoy him. But soon their games of cards seemed to have lost their fascination, and the social glass parted with its old relish, until, eventually, more than half the number abandoned both.
A father's trust helps a son grow in responsibility and self-reliance through faithful service.
FACULTIES, Development of the Krummacher tells of a countryman, the owner of great estates, noted for his wisdom and prudence, who was obliged to go on a journey for several months. He called his son, and gave him charge of all till his return. The youth was dismayed at the task; but his father bade him farewell, and departed. The youth, Joses by name, undertook the work with much fear, but took courage, and said, "My father hath confided it to me: therefore I must fulfil my work." So he wrought vigorously, and improved greatly. After many months, the father returned, and found the estates, the flocks and herds, all in good order; and the fame of his son spread through all the country. Then the father praised the good management of his son. The son said, "But, my father, what if I had had ill success?" The father smiled, and said, "I knew your abilities; but you did not know them. I wished to give you self-reliance: therefore I demanded a great thing of you. You were a youth; but now you are become a man."
True strength is shown by controlling emotions, not by suppressing all feeling.
The power of absolutely repressing the slightest outward exhibition of feeling was matter of especial pride with the red men. If they were glad, they never looked it; if the most awful misfortune befell them, it wrought not the least change in their iron features and their impressive demeanor. From his tree-rocked cradle to his bier, the Indian brave was trained to bear all the extremes of good and evil without making any signs of what he felt. If he met a friend, the dearest on earth, or if he was being tortured to death at the fiery stake, he preserved the same fixed, immovable aspect. And you could not please him better than by believing that he was so completely beyond all feeling as he seemed; for he set himself out as "the stoic of the woods, and a man without a tear." Boyd.
True gentility is shown by natural behavior, neither servile nor familiar, regardless of rank.
He that enjoys the intimacy of the great, and neither disgusts them by familiarity, nor disgraces himself by servility, proves that he is as perfect a gentleman by nature as his companion is by rank. Colton.
A true gentleman embodies admirable qualities that attract respect and goodwill.
A true gentleman is what one seldom sees. He is properly a compound of the various good qualities that embellish mankind. As the great poet animates all the different parts of learning by the force of his genius, and irradiates all the compass of his knowledge by the lustre and brightness of his imagination; so all the great and solid perfections of life appear in the finished gentleman, with a beautiful gloss and varnish; every thing he says or does is accompanied with a manner or charm that draws the admiration or good-will of every beholder.
— Steele
Destroying a good name causes deep, ongoing personal misery beyond physical harm.
He that tears away a man's good name tears his flesh from his bones, and, by letting him live, gives him only a cruel opportunity of feeling his misery, of burying his better part, and surviving himself. Dr. South.
Once a good name is tainted, it becomes vulnerable and easily broken.
Garments that have once one rent in them are subject to be torn on every nail; and glasses that are once cracked are soon broken: such is man's good name once tainted with just reproach.
— Bp. Hall
False seriousness often indicates a troubled or muddled mind beneath the surface.
There is a false gravity which is a very ill symptom; and it may be said, that as rivers which run very slowly have always the most mud at the bottom, so a solid stiffness in the constant course of a man's life is a sign of a thick bed of mud at the bottom of his brain. Sacille.
Grumblers are lazy, fearful, and ungrateful, hindering success and causing complaints.
If all the grumblers in the world were summoned together by some thundering Calliope, what an army there would be! Since the days of Xerxes, nothing could compare with such a host. You will find them everywhere as thick as the frogs of Egypt. No trade, calling, or profession is free from them. Let us describe them. Grumblers are usually a very lazy set. Having no disposition to work themselves, they spend their time in whining, and complaining both about their own affairs and those of their neighbors. They are usually a year behind the age, and therefore, when they undertake an enterprise, they find themselves so far down stream, that all the winds and tides of sympathy, so necessary to success, are against them. They are usually very independent, "eating nothing for nobody." Determined to go it "blind," they find it a "wide berth" and a "hard road to travel" wherever their footsteps lead them. They are easily scared. They always see double: a lion is in the way sure; no mistake about it. There is always "something about to happen." "Look out for breakers" is the great refrain of their every-day song. They have a most capacious appetite for favors as well as food; and are therefore always on hand, and "just in time to accept the gift of a very particular friend." Their favorite motto is, "Small favors thankfully received, and larger ones in proportion." They are always very jealous of "character and influence in society," and generally "quite as good as anybody;" they should therefore be treated with great consideration. They are usually long-lived in the opinions of their friends, and should therefore be cured of their disease as soon as possible.
A man's true nature is revealed in private, under passion, and in new situations.
A man's nature is best perceived in privateness, for there is no affectation; in passion, for that putteth a man out of his precepts; and in a new case or experiment, for there custom leaveth him. Lord Bacon.
People often imitate others' faults rather than their virtues or wisdom.
Alexander had enough to imitate him in his drunkenness and his passion, who never intended to be like him, either in his chastity, or his justice to his enemies and his liberality to his friends. And it is reported of Plato, that, being crooked shouldered, his scholars, who so much admired him, would endeavor to be like him, by bolstering out their garments on that side, that so they might appear crooked too. It is probable that many of these found it easier to imitate Plato's shoulders than his philosophy, and to stuff out their gowns than to furnish their understandings or improve their minds.
— Dr. South
A person's character inevitably influences others positively or negatively, even unconsciously.
That which a man is, that sum-total made up of the item of his beliefs, purposes, affections, tastes, and habits, manifested in all he does and does not, is contagious in its tendency, and is ever photographing itself on other spirits. He himself may be as unconscious of this emanation of good or evil from his character, as he is of the contagion of disease from his body, or, if that were equally possible, of the contagion of good health; but the fact, nevertheless, is certain. If the light is in him, it must shine; if darkness reigns, it must shade; if he glows with love, it will radiate its warmth; if he is frozen with selfishness, the cold will chill the atmosphere around him; and, if corrupt and vile, he will poison it. Nor is it possible for any one to occupy a neutral or indifferent position. In some form or other, he must affect others. Were he to banish himself to a distant island, or even enter the gates of death, he still exercises a positive influence, for he is a loss to his brother, — the loss of that most blessed gift of God, even that of a living man to living men, of a being who ought to have loved and to have been beloved. Dr. Macleod.
Some reject the value of labor, raising children to avoid hard work and become useless.
Men seem ashamed of labor; and often you will find men who have made themselves respected by labor, have built up a business and amassed a fortune, who turn to their sons, and say, "You shall never do as I did; you shall lead a different life; you shall be spared all this." Oh tho rich men's sons! They aim to lead a life of emasculated idleness and laziness. Like the polyp that floats useless and nasty upon the sea, — all jelly and flabby, no muscle, no bone; it shuts and opens, and opens and shuts, and sucks in and squirts out again, of no earthly account, influence, or use, — such are these poor fools. Their parents toiled, and grew strong, built up their forms of iron and bone; but, denying all this to their sons, they turn them upon the world boneless, muscleless, simple gristle, and soft at that. Beecher.
Honest labor is honorable regardless of social status or origin.
An American President, when asked what was his coat of arms, replied, "A pair of shirt-sleeves." Lord Teudarden was proud to point out to his son the shop in which his father had shaved for a penny. A French doctor once taunted Fletcher, Bishop of Nismes, who had been a tallow-chandler in his youth, with the meanness of his origin; to which he replied, "If you had been born in the same condition that I was, you would still have been but a maker of candles."
