When we have not the strength or the courage to grasp a new truth, we persuade ourselves that it is not a truth at all. John Lancaster Spalding More Quotes by John Lancaster Spalding More Quotes From John Lancaster Spalding Leave each one his touch of folly; it helps to lighten life's burden which, if he could see himself as he is, might be too heavy to carry. John Lancaster Spalding burden helping might If all were gentle and contented as sheep, all would be as feeble and helpless. John Lancaster Spalding gentle would-be sheep Do definite good; first of all to yourself, then to definite persons. John Lancaster Spalding definite persons firsts A liberal education is that which aims to develop faculty without ulterior views of profession or other means of gaining a livelihood. It considers man an end in himself and not an instrument whereby something is to be wrought. Its ideal is human perfection. John Lancaster Spalding views men mean Worry, whatever its source, weakens, takes away courage, and shortens life. John Lancaster Spalding source worry As a brave man goes into fire or flood or pestilence to save a human life, so a generous mind follows after truth and love, and is not frightened from the pursuit by danger or toil or obloquy. John Lancaster Spalding brave fire men There is some lack either of sense or of character in one who becomes involved in difficulties with the worthless or the vicious. John Lancaster Spalding vicious difficulty character Make thyself perfect; others, happy. John Lancaster Spalding thyself perfect They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn. John Lancaster Spalding unlearn lost The power of free will is developed and confirmed by increasing the number of worthy motives which influence conduct. John Lancaster Spalding free-will influence numbers Work, mental or manual, is the means whereby attention is compelled, it is the instrument of all knowledge and virtue, the root whence all excellence springs. John Lancaster Spalding roots spring mean The ploughman knows how many acres he shall upturn from dawn to sunset: but the thinker knows not what a day may bring forth. John Lancaster Spalding sunset dawn may When guests enter the room their entertainers rise to receive them; and in all meetings men should ascend into their higher selves, imparting to one another only the best they know and love. John Lancaster Spalding guests self men There are few things it is more important to learn than how to live on little and be therewith content: for the less we need what is without, the more leisure have we to live within. John Lancaster Spalding important littles needs It is difficult to be sure of our friends, but it is possible to be certain of our loyalty to them. John Lancaster Spalding difficult certain loyalty In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves. John Lancaster Spalding dominion animal giving Contradiction is the salt which keeps truth from corruption John Lancaster Spalding salt contradiction corruption The noblest are they who turning from the things the vulgar crave, seek the source of a blessed life in worlds to which the senses do not lead. John Lancaster Spalding source blessed world The doubt of an earnest, thoughtful, patient and laborious mind is worthy of respect. In such doubt may be found indeed more faith than in half the creeds. John Lancaster Spalding thoughtful faith doubt A principal aim of education is to give students a taste for literature, for the books of life and power, and to accomplish this, it is necessary that their minds be held aloof from the babblement and discussions of the hour, that they may accustom themselves to take interest in the words and deeds of the greatest men, and so make themselves able and worthy to shape a larger and nobler future; but if their hours of leisure are spent over journals and reviews, they will, in later years, become the helpless victims of the newspaper habit. John Lancaster Spalding men book years
