Patience, persistence, and power to do are only acquired by work. J. G. Holland More Quotes by J. G. Holland More Quotes From J. G. Holland We often wonder that certain men and women are left by God to the commission of sins that shock us. We wonder how, under the temptation of a single hour, they fall from the very heights of virtue and of honor into sin and shame. The fact is that there are no such falls as these, or there are next to none. These men and women are those who have dallied with temptation--have exposed themselves to the influence of it, and have been weakened and corrupted by it. J. G. Holland temptation men fall The idle man stands outside of God's plan, outside of the ordained scheme of things; and the truest self-respect, the noblest independence, and the most genuine dignity, are not to be found there. J. G. Holland independence self men Preceptive wisdom that has not been vivified by life has in itself no affinity for life. J. G. Holland affinity wisdom I softly sink into the bath of sleep: With eyelids shut, I see around me close The mottled, violet vapors of the deep, That wraps me in repose. J. G. Holland vapor violet sleep Work for immortality if you will: then wait for it. J. G. Holland immortality ifs waiting My God! I thank Thee for the bath of sleep, That wraps in balm my weary heart and brain, And drowns within its waters still and deep My sorrow and my pain. I thank Thee for my dreams, which loose the bond That binds my spirit to its daily load, And give it angel wings, to fly beyond Its slumber-bound abode. J. G. Holland pain dream heart So I take my life as I find it, as a life full of grand advantages that are linked indissolubly to my noblest happiness and my everlasting safety. I believe that Infinite Love ordained it, and that, if I bow willingly, tractably, and gladly to its discipline, my Father will take care of it. J. G. Holland discipline believe father A life in any sphere that is the expression and outflow of an honest, earnest, loving heart, taking counsel only of God and itself, will be certain to be a life of beneficence in the best possible direction. J. G. Holland spheres expression heart Play may not have so high a place in the divine economy, but is has as legitimate a place as prayer. J. G. Holland prayer play may All that has been done to weaken the foundation of an implicit faith in the Bible, as a whole, has been at the expense of the sense of religious obligation, and at the cost of human happiness. J. G. Holland foundation religious bible How long must the church live before it will learn that strength is won by action, and success by work, and that all this immeasurable feeding without action and work is a positive damage to it--that it is the procurer of spiritual obesity, gout, and debility. J. G. Holland church spiritual long Assertion of truths known and felt, promulgation of truth from the high platform of truth itself, declaration of faith by the mouth of moral conviction--this is the New Testament method, and the true one. J. G. Holland conviction moral mouths Gossip is always a personal confession either of malice or imbecility, and the young should not only shun it, but by the most thorough culture relieve themselves from all temptation to indulge in it. It is a low, frivolous, and too often a dirty business. There are country neighborhoods in which it rages like a pest. Churches are split in pieces by it. Neighbors are made enemies by it for life. In many persons it degenerates into a chronic disease, which is practically incurable. Let the young cure it while they may. J. G. Holland indulge-in country dirty The gentleman is solid mahogany; the fashionable man is only veneer. J. G. Holland veneer gentleman men I know of but one garment which the fashionable social life of this country borrows of Christianity; it is that ample garment of charity which covers a multitude of sins--particularly fashionable sins. J. G. Holland charity hypocrisy country We live in the future. Even the happiness of the present is made up mostly of that delightful discontent which the hope of better things inspires. J. G. Holland future made inspire Fiction is most powerful when it contains most truth; and there is little truth we get so true as that which we find in fiction. J. G. Holland powerful littles fiction I have learned that to do one's next duty is to take a step toward all that is worth possessing. J. G. Holland next duty steps What do you think God gave you more wealth than is requisite to satisfy your rational wants for, when you look around and see how many are in absolute need of that which you do not need? Can you not take the hint? J. G. Holland looks needs thinking The hammer and the anvil are the two hemispheres of every true reformer's character. J. G. Holland power character two
