Albrecht Dürer born 1471.
Fernando de Soto died 1542.
Alexander Pope born 1688.
Self-love but serves the virtuous mind to wake
As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake;
The center moved, a circle straight succeeds,
Another still, and still another spreads;
Friend, parent, neighbor, first it will embrace,
Its country next, and next, the human race.
--Alexander Pope.
A gentleman is one who understands and shows every mark of deference
to the claim of self-love in others, and exacts it in return from
them.
--William Hazlitt.
But he knoweth the way that I take;
When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot hath held fast to his steps;
His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
--Job 23. 10.
Lord God, teach me how secret actions make or destroy my life. Show me
the deep lines made by sorrow and discontent that cannot be effaced.
May I look toward the corrections of life and not on my imperfections,
that my life may be a helpful influence. Amen.