Friday, August 22, 2008



In training our children and grandchildren, one way I present morality is as though it is a riddle and it is their task to interpret. They may discuss with one another and then, like a game show, offer their answer. Going through Proverbs or like the following post , are good challenges when age appropriate.

"Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thy self: if thou find any thing questionable there, use the commentary of a severe friend rather than the gloss of a sweetlipt flatter; there is more profit in a distasteful truth than deceitful sweetness.

If thou art rich, strive to command thy money, lest she command thee: if thou know how to use her, she is thy servant; if not, thou art her slave.

Be not censorious, for thou know'st not when thou judgest; it is a more dextrous error to speak well of an evil man than ill of a good man.

Hath any wronged thee? be bravely reveng'd: sleight it, and the work's begun; forgive it, and 'tis finished: he is below himself that is not above an injury.

Give not thy tongue too great a liberty, lest it take thee prisoner. A word unspoken is, like the sword in thy scabberd, thine; if vented, thy sword is in another's hand: if thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.

Francis Quarles 1592-1644 Photo by Polixeni Papapetrou - Riddles

Demean thy self more warily in thy study than in the street. If thy public actions have a hundred witnesses, thy private actions have a thousand. The multitude looks but upon the actions: thy conscience looks into them."

3 comments:

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello Fred!

Very thought provoking and highly educative post not only for children but also for adults.

Thanks for sharing!

Best wishes!

FCB said...

Hi Joseph,
I always appreciate your comments.
I had to read this quote many times to get all the thoughts. I took stanza by stanza for the grandkids, and they finally figured them all out. I was impressed. And a little humbled :)
God bless.

Mel said...

All of the ideas presented provide food for thought, and I especially appreciate the first quote, the one that begins, "Read not books alone..." I want to be surrounded by "severe friends" who will always speak the truth, no matter the cost, to me or to them.