Bear railing words with patience, never meet Reviling for reviling, smite not him Who smites thee; let thy speech and acts be gentle. -"MAHABHARATA." Let every one sweep the snow from his own door, and not busy himself about the frost on his neighbour's tiles. The ripest fruit will not fall into your mouth. The pleasure of doing good is the only one that does not wear out. Dig a well before you are thirsty. Water does not remain in the mountains, nor vengeance in great minds. -CHINESE MAXIMS. Get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully and live contentedly. Beware of him who regards not his reputation. -MAXIM. Contradict with respect, and be complaisant without fawning. -MAXIM. Be not ashamed to ask, if you doubt, but be ashamed to be reproved for the same fault twice. -MAXIM. Believe not all you hear and report not all you believe. * From Indian Wisdom by Monier Williams. -MAXIM. Be cautious of believing ill, but more cautious of reporting it. Be ever vigilant but never suspicious. Believe nothing which is unreasonable, and reject nothing as unreasonable without proper examination. -BUDDHA. Pry not into the affairs of others. He who peeps through a hole may see what will vex him. There are three companions with whom you should always keep on good terms: 1. Your wife 2. Your stomach 3. Your conscience. Never deceive your physician, your confessor, nor your lawyer. -OLD SPANISH PROVERB. The six cardinal "don'ts" are, deceive, nor go security.* -DR. W. W. HALL. Do not drink any kind of spirituous or malt liquors, nor use any tobacco, narcotics or stupefying drugs unless administered medically. • From How to Live Long. Rise early, live soberly, and apply thyself with industry. When two parties come before thee, never pronounce in favour of one until thou hast heard the other. -MAHOMED. Contemn not poor acquaintance, nor flatter rich friends. Powers should not be employed to do wrong, but to punish the doers of wrong. If thou art a master, sometimes be blind; if a servant, sometimes be deaf. Despise not your inferiors. Thou shalt not do to others what thou likest not thyself. -"MAHABHARATA." If you throw a stone into filth, it will fly into your face. -TELUGU PROVERB. Do not close a letter without reading it, nor drink water without seeing it. "Never advise another about investments, John," said an old lawyer to his nephew. 66 Why not," asked John. should be successful he would give you no thanks, and if unsuccessful, he would charge all blame on you." There are two things about which we should never grumble. 1. Those things which we can prevent. 2. Those things that we cannot prevent. The best things to give are rice and pulse, the best not to give is a word of abuse from the mouth; the best to drink is the cup of anger, the best not to eat is unlawful gain.* -M. C. MUNSOOKн. Never make a mountain of a mole-hill. Honour the old, instruct the young, consult the wise, and bear with the foolish. Familiarity breeds contempt. -PROVERB. Bad company brings the wretchedness of a family in its train, Wealth always disappears with union; Industry brings with it both prosperity and good sense, Idleness begets poverty; Infamy is always the result of niggardliness, Generosity adds to fame ; Dalpat says lying engenders distrust, And truthfulness mostly builds up credit. * Translated by W. H. Hamilton. † A Gujarati poet. --DALPATRAM. † Hear much, to dissipate doubt; take heed that in the abundance of your words there be nothing amiss: see much, to get rid of miserable ignorance; take heed to your conduct that there be no cause for repentance. Your conversation being faultless, and your conduct without anything of which you ought to repent, a princely revenue is contained therein. * -CONFUCIUS. Four things are grievously empty:- 2. A wit without judgment, Sadness kills mirth; winter, autumn; the sun, darkness; ingratitude, good deeds; the presence of a friend, grief; good policy, misfortune; and bad policy, prosperous fortune. -"HITOPADESHA."† The strength obtained by food will fail, * From Marshman's Works of Confucius. † Prof. Johnson's edition. A Canarese song, from the Folk-songs of Southern India by Charles E. Gover. |