Book of Wise Sayings

Book of Wise Sayings
Selected Largely from Eastern Sources

By

5
(2 Reviews)
Book of Wise Sayings by W. A. Clouston

Published:

1893

Pages:

172

Downloads:

22,198

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Book of Wise Sayings
Selected Largely from Eastern Sources

By

5
(2 Reviews)
When a man has reached middle-age he generally feels with tenfold force the truth of those "sayings of the wise" which he learned in his early years, and has cause to regret, as well as wonder, that he had not all along followed their wholesome teaching. For it is to the young, who are about to cross the threshold of active life, that such terse convincing sentences are more especially addressed, and, spite of the proverbial heedlessness of youth, there will be found many who are not deaf to this kind of instruction, if their moral environment be favourable. But, even after the spring-time of youth is past, there are occasions when the mind is peculiarly susceptible to the force of a pithy maxim, which may tend to the reforming of one's way of life. There is commonly more practical wisdom in a striking aphorism than in a round dozen of "goody" books--that is to say, books which are not good in the highest sense, because their themes are overlaid with commonplace and wearisome reflections.

Book Excerpt

eth headlong.

Sa'dí.

43.

A man who has learnt little grows old like an ox: his flesh grows, but his knowledge does not grow.

Dhammapada.

44.

Unsullied poverty is always happy, while impure wealth brings with it many sorrows.

Chinese.

45.

Both white and black acknowledge women's sway, So much the better and the wiser too, Deeming it most convenient to obey, Or possibly they might their folly rue.[6]

Persian.

[6] Cf. Pope:

Would men but follow what the sex advise, All things would prosper, all the world grow wise.

46.

We are never so much disposed to quarrel with others as when we are dissatisfied with ourselves.

Hazlitt.

47.

No one is more profoundly sad than he who laughs too much.

Richter.

48.

The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays its eternal beauties, and yet your eyes are fixed upo