Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 3.djvu/92

If you always look only to your own advantage you will be sure to make many enemies.

Plausible speech, fine manners, and studied correctness are things of which a friend of mine was ashamed. I also am ashamed of such things. To conceal resentment against a person and to make friends with him, that also is something of which my friend was ashamed, and I too am ashamed to do such a thing.

In attaining a moral life it is good to consider how one would see things if one were placed in the position of others and to act accordingly.

Seek for wisdom; hold fast to godliness; live a moral life and enjoy the pleasures derived from the pursuit of the fine arts.

Is moral life something remote or difficult? If a man will only wish to live a moral life—there and then his life becomes moral.

Whatever things are contrary to the ideal of decency and good sense, do not look on them. Whatever things are contrary to the ideal of decency and good sense, do not listen to them. Whatever things are contrary to the ideal of decency and good sense, do not utter them with your mouth.

When going out into the world, behave always as if you were at an audience before the Emperor; in dealing with the people, act as if you were at worship before God.

Whatsoever things you do not wish that others should do unto you, do not do unto them.

A man who can resist long continued attempts of others to insinuate prejudice into him and who cannot be influenced by a sudden appeal to his own personal safety, such a man may be considered a man of perspicacity.