CONTENTMENT. To secure a contented spirit, measure your desires by your fortunes, and not your fortunes by your desires. JEREMY TAYLOR. "Think on your marcies, chile, think on your marcies." He who isn't contented with what he has wouldn't be contented with what he would like to have. AUERBACH. Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another. CONDORCET. My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not decked with diamond and Indian stones, Nor to be seen my crown is called content; A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. SHAKESPEARE. Sweet are the thoughts that savor of content; The poor estate scorns fortune's angry frown: Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss. ROBT. GREENE. I've never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them. GEORGE ELIOT. Too great confidence in success is the likeliest to prevent it; because it hinders us from making the best use of the advantages which we enjoy. ATTERBURY. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. Be not wise in your own conceits. Bible. Modesty is the politeness of conceit. CHRISTIANITY. "Christianity, if it means anything, means sixteen ounces to the pound, three feet to the yard, a just weight and just measure. "It means honesty in all dealings, purity in all conversation, a charity as broad as the race, unflinching integrity, sympathy, humanity to man, loyalty to God. With these there can be no compromise." "Politeness is surface Christianity." CONVERSATION. The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third, good humor, and the fourth, wit. SIR WM. TEMPLE. There are three things in s ch that ought to be considered before some things are spoken; the manner, the place, and the time. SOUTHEY. Words learn'd by rote, a parrot may rehearse, COWPER. The advantage of conversation is such that, for want of company, a man had better talk to a post than let his thoughts lie smoking and smothering. JEREMY COLLlier. When you find an antagonist beginning to grow warm, put an end to the dispute by some genteel badinage. CHESTERFIELD. "If wisdom's ways you wisely seek, Five things observe with care; COURTESY. "Politeness is to do and say, The kindest thing in the kindest way." "Politeness is real kindness, kindly expressed." No amount of training can make a gentleman or gentlewoman, unless the gentle spirit be within. EMERSON. In character, in manners, in style, in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity. LONGFELLOW. Grace is to the body what good sense is to the mind. ROCHEFOUCAULD. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Bible. Good breeding is benevolence in trifles. LORD CHATHAM. The person who screams, or uses the superlaLive degree, or converses with heat, puts whole arawing-rooms to flight. Good breeding is the R. W. EMERSON. result of much good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others. CHESTERField. COURTESY. "Manners are happy ways of doing things; each one a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into usage." How sweet and gracious even in common speech, Is that fine sense which men call courtesy ! "The secret of art in manners may be found by acting on the principle of making every one as happy as lies in our power." She doeth little kindnesses Which most leave undone or despise, Is low-esteeméd in her eyes. J. R. LOWELL. "The true lady never in any way makes herself conspicuous, and never does anything unnecessarily to make other people uncomfortable or unhappy." |