Meekness, like most other virtues, has certain limits, which it no
sooner exceeds than it becomes criminal. She who hears innocence
maligned without vindicating it---falsehood asserted without
contradicting it,--or religion profaned without resenting it, is not
gentle, but wicked.
Meekness is imperfect, if it be not both active and passive; if it will
not enable us to subdue our own passions and resentments, as well as
qualify us to bear patiently the passions and resentments of others. If
it were only for mere human reasons, it would turn to a profitable
account to be patient; nothing defeats the malice of an enemy like the
spirit of forbearance; the return of rage for rage cannot be so
effectually provoking.
True gentleness, like an impenetrable armour, repels the most pointed
shafts of malice: they cannot pierce through this invulnerable shield,
but either fall hurtless to the ground, or return to wound the hand that
shot them.
A meek spirit will not look out of itself for happiness, because it
finds a constant banquet at home; yet, by a sort of divine alchemy, it
will convert all external events to its own profit; and be able to
deduce some good, even from the most unpromising; it will extract
comfort and satisfaction, from the most barren circumstances; “it will
suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.”
Meekness may be called the pioneer of all the other virtues, which
levels every obstruction, and smooths every difficulty that might impede
their entrance, or retard their progress. Honours and dignities are
transient;---beauty and riches frail and fugacious;---but this amiable
virtue, is permanent. And surely the truly wise would wish to have some
one possession, which they might call their own in the severest
exigencies. This can only be accomplished by acquiring and maintaining
that calm and absolute self-possession, which, as the world had no hand
in giving, so it cannot, by the most malicious exertion of its power,
take away.
[[Source:
“True and False Meekness” in Hannah More, _Essays Principally
Designed for Young Ladies_ (1777). “Compassion” (p. 401, no. 103)
is from the same source.]]
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