February 18

“Dislike – misunderstanding – opposition – likely enough, and if not self-caused, wholesome enough, yet very hard to bear. When these things come we must examine our conscience, and see whether there may not be in ourselves some self-will or pride, or narrowness, or over-sensitiveness, or love of self-assertion, which may account for what we are suffering. And then if our conscience is clear, we can leave it to God. It will pass. And we will pray that it pass not without teaching us its lessons of humility and patience and forbearance.”

Bishop WALSHAM HOW

“If you would not be known to do a thing – never do it.”

EMERSON

“If thou consider what thou art in thyself, thou wilt not care what men say of thee.”

THOMAS à KEMPIS

“What can harm us if we are true to ourselves and do what we think is right?”

BLACK

February 17

“It is an immense blessing to be perfectly callous to ridicule; or, which comes to the same thing, to be conscious thoroughly that what we have in us of noble and delicate is not ridiculous to any but fools, and that, if fools will laugh, wise men will do well to let them.”

Dr. ARNOLD

“When the world blames and slanders us, our business is not to be vexed at it, but rather to consider whether there is any foundation for it, any truth at bottom, though there be exaggeration and mistake. I conceive a person may always gain good to his own soul, gain instruction and useful suggestion, by the mistakes of the world about him.”

J. H. NEWMAN

“Censure and criticism never hurt anybody. If false they cannot harm you, unless you are wanting in character; and if true, they show a man his weak points, and forewarn him against failure and trouble.”

February 16

“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after your won; but the great man is he who, in the midst of the crowd, keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”

EMERSON

“Do not be the slave of first impressions.”

“True self-consciousness holds to its course. Not recklessly and ruthlessly, not with a contempt for the feelings and judgments of his fellow creatures, but with a serene trust in the justification ensured to every honest endeavour.”

A. N. WARD

“What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule . . . is harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.”

EMERSON