bulent, humanizes the fierce, and distinguishes
a society of civilized persons from a confusion of savages.
Politeness has been defined as society's method of making things run
smoothly. True complaisance is a more intimate quality. It is an
impulse to seek points of agreement with others. A spirit of welcome,
whether to strangers, or to new suggestions, untried pleasures, fresh
impressions. It never is satisfied to remain inactive as long as there
is anybody to please or to make more comfortable.
The complaisant person need not be lacking in will, in determination,
or individuality. In fact it is the complaisant person's strength of
will that holds in check and harmonizes all the other traits of
character and moulds them into a perfectly balanced disposition.
Complaisance rounds off the sharp corners, chooses softer and gentler
words and makes it easy and pleasant for all to dwell together in
unity. And it never fails to contribute something to the enjoyment of
everyone even though it be
ONLY A WORD
Tell me something that will be
Joy through all the years to me.
Let my heart forever hold
One divinest grain of gold.
Just a simple little word,
Yet the dearest ever heard;
Something that will bring me rest
When the world seems all distressed.
As the candle in the night
Sends abroad its cheerful light,
So a little word may be
Like a lighthouse in the sea.
When the winds and waves of life
Fill the breast with storm and strife,
Just one star my boat may guide
To the harbor, glorified.
[Illustration: HARRIET BEECHER STOWE]
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[Transcriber's Note: Sidenote quotations from the preceeding chapter are
gathered in this section.]
Only to the pure and the true does Nature resign herself and reveal
her secrets.--Goethe.
Every man carries with him the world in which he must live, the stage
and the scenery for his own play.--F. Marion Crawford.
The best is yet unwritten, for we grow from more to more.--Sam Walter
Foss.
Notwithstanding a faculty be born with us, there are several methods
for cultivating and improving it.--Addison.
Every truth in the universe makes a close joint with every other
truth.--Melvin L. Severy.
All flimsy, shallow, and superficial work is a lie, of which a man
ought to be ashamed.--John Stuart Blackie.
When we cease to learn
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