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he never forgave one. It is a rule then which we should upon all occasions, both private and public, most religiously observe, "to be inexorable to our own failings, while we treat those of the rest of the world with tenderness, not excepting even those who forgive none but themselves.”

—PLINY.

Grandeur of character lies wholly in force of soul,. that is, in the force of thought, moral principle, and love, and this may be found in the humblest condition of life.

-REV. CHANNING.

There are two simple truisms: That men are the same; and that the passions are the powerful and disturbing forces, the greater or the less prevalence of which gives individuality to character.

-COLTON.

Reputation is what men think of us; character is what we really are.

Sow an act, and you reap a habit ;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

-THACKERAY.

Your character is in your own hands.

-BENGALI PROVERB.

Character is formed by a variety of minute circumstances, more or less under the regulation and control of the individual. Not a day passes without its discipline, whether for good or for evil. There is no act, however

trivial, but has its train of consequences, as there is no hair so small but casts its shadow.

-SMILES.

Childhood is the time for forming a character; unless it be formed then it is waste of time to try to form it afterwards-the first impressions being the deepest and the most lasting. A character, then, either for good or for evil, is formed and only formed, as a rule, in childhood. If this be the case, what a fearful responsibility rests upon a mother-which it really and truly does the most onerous that can be put upon the shoulders of any one-requiring on her part, earnest prayer, watchfulness, vigilance and abnegation of self. -CHAVASSE.

Whether we call it education or not, the character of every individual largely depends upon the training in ideas and in habits, which he receives during the period between infancy and adult life. This training comes through direct teaching, but also through example and through all the various influences which surround the child, whether in the home, the school or the playground. The environment or conditions of his life make up the raw material from which at every moment he assimilates a portion, and, according to his native bias, builds up his individual character.*

JANE H. CLAPPERTON.

In the description of a sermon preached to the working classes by the late Dr. Macleod in the Barony Church of Glasgow, it is said that he made a grand

From Scientific Melioriem.

stand for character. From the highest to the lowest that was the grand aim to be made. He said that “the most valuable thing that Prince Albert had left was character. He knew perfectly well that many very poor people thought it was impossible for them to have a character. It was not true; he would not hear of it. There was not a man or woman before him, however poor they might be, but had it in their power, by the grace of God, to leave behind them the grandest thing on earth, character; and their children might rise up after them and thank God that their mother was a pious woman, or their father a pious man." Character is made up of small duties faithfully performed of self-denials, of self-sacrifices, of kindly acts of love and Duty. The backbone of character is laid at home; and whether the constitutional tendencies be good or bad, home influences will as a rule fan them into activity.

-SMILES.

Home is the first and most important school of character. It is there that every human being receives his best moral training or his worst; for it is there that he imbibes those principles of conduct which endure through manhood and cease only with life.

-SMILES.

Talents are best nurtured in solitude; character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world.

-GOETHE.

Human character is moulded by a thousand subtle influences; by example and precept; by life and literature; by friends and neighbours; by the world we live in as well as by the spirits of our forefathers, whose legacy of good words and deeds we inherit. But great,

unquestionably, though these influences are regarded to be, it is nevertheless equally clear that men must necessarily be the active agents of their own well-being and well-doing; and that, however much the wise and the good may owe to others, they themselves must in the very nature of things be their own best helpers.

-SMILES.

The best sort of character, however, cannot be formed without effort. There needs the exercise of constant self-watchfulness, self-discipline, and self-control. There may be much faltering, stumbling and temporary defeat; difficulties and temptations manifold to be battled with and overcome; but if the spirit be strong and the heart be upright, no one need despair of ultimate success. The very effort to advance to arrive at a higher standard of character than we have reached-is inspiring and invigorating: and even though we may fall short of it, we cannot fail to be improved by every honest effort made in an upward direction.

-SMILES.

Character must be kept bright as well as clean. In purity of character and in politeness of manners, labour to excel all, if you wish to equal many.

-LORD CHESTERFIELD.

The moral character of man should be not only pure, but, like Caesar's wife, unsuspected. The least speck or blemish upon it is fatal.

-LORD CHESTERFIELD.

Character is like cloth; if white, it can be dyed black, but once blackened, it cannot be dyed white.

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A good character is carefully to be maintained for the sake of others if possible, more than ourselves; it is coat of triple steel, giving security to the wearer, protection to the oppressed, and inspiring the oppressor with awe.

-COLTON.

A good and honourable character is a safe provision for every event and every turn of fortune.

-MENANDER.

Character gives splendour to youth, and awe to

wrinkled skin and grey hairs.

-EMERSON.

Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes

with him.

-AFRICAN PROVERB.

The reputation of a thousand years may depend on the character of a single day.

-CHINESE PROVERB.

Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts. If any one speak evil of you, let your life be so that none will believe him.

Unless above himself he can

Erect himself, how poor a thing is man!

-DANIEL.

A man of feeble character resembles

A reed that bends with every gust of wind.*

* From Indian Wisdom by Monier Williams.

-MAGHA.

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