Life and Literature

Chapter 133

His n.o.ble face so shone With holiness, The very sight of it Could not but bless.

I met him only once Upon my way, Many years ago, And yet to-day

That face of light and strength Still dwells with me; The man "had been with G.o.d"-- "Twas plain to see.

--_Edith Campbell Babbitt._

1848

Men of age * * * content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

--_Bacon._

1849

Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work.

1850

If you would go to the top, first go to the bottom.

1851

The worst use that can be made of success is to boast of it.

--_Sir Arthur Helps._

1852

Mediocrity succeeds best in the world.

--_Colton._

1853

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

At a gathering in Australia, not long since, four persons met, three of whom were shepherds on a sheep-farm. One of these had taken a degree at Oxford, another at Cambridge, the third at a German university. The fourth was their employer, a squatter, rich in flocks and herds, but scarcely able to read and write, much less to keep accounts.

1854

SUCCESSFUL MEN WHO WERE NOT RICH.

A sense of the power and luxury in money, beyond all the wonder tales, has suddenly come to us.

In times like these, it is good to remember Aga.s.siz, who refused to lecture at five hundred dollars a night because he was too busy to make money; Spurgeon, who refused to go to America to deliver fifty lectures at one thousand dollars a night, saying he could do better--he could stay in London and try to save fifty souls; and Emerson, who steadfastly declined to increase his income beyond one thousand two hundred dollars because he wanted his time to think.

--_F. Bellamy in Everybody"s Magazine._

1855

Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt, Nothing"s so hard but search will find it out.

--_Herrick._

1856

Those who accomplish great things always begin with little things.

1857

That success costs too dear, which is attained by any sacrifice of _truth_, _honor_, or _justice_.

1858

He who waits to be absolutely sure of the success of an undertaking, will never undertake it.

1859

The poor have little,--beggars, none; The rich too much,--enough, not one.

1860

The man who has a sufficiency, generally smiles at the artificial wants of others.

1861

The summer day Endures not ever: toil ye while ye may.

--_Hesiod, a Greek, 850 B. C._

1862

_Sun._--The glorious lamp of heaven; with one eye vieweth all the world.