There Is An Honesty Which Is But

There Is Hardly A More Common Error Than That Of Taking The Man Who Has One Talent, For A Genius.

Infinite Toil Would Not Enable You To Sweep Away A Mist; But By Ascending A Little You May Often Look Over It Altogether.

Rare Almost As Great Poets, Rarer, Perhaps, Than Veritable Saints And Martyrs; Are Consummate Men Of Business. A Man, To Be Excellent In This Way, Requires A Great Knowledge Of Character, With That Exquisite Tact Which Feels Unerringly The Right Moment When To Act. A Discreet Rapidity Must Pervade All The Movements Of His Thought And Action. He Must Be Singularly Free From Vanity, And Is Generally Found To Be An Enthusiast Who Has The Art To Conceal His Enthusiasm.

There Is An Honesty Which Is But Decided Selfishness In Disguise. The Person Who Will Not Refrain From Expressing His Or Her Sentiments And Manifesting His Or Her Feelings, However Unfit The Time, However Inappropriate The Place, However Painful This Expression May Be, Lays Claim, Forsooth, To Our Approbation As An Honest Person, And Sneers At Those Of Finer Sensibilities As Hypocrites.

There Are Few Who Would Need Advisers, If They Were Only Accustomed To Appeal To Themselves In Their Calmest, Holiest Moments. If, When Embarrassed With Doubt As To Any Course Of Action, They Would Turn Aside From The Immediate Tumult Of The World, And From The Vain Speaking Of Those Who "darken Counsel By Words Without Knowledge;" And Would Then Commune With Their Hearts Alone, At Night, The Heavens Their Silent Counsellors, They Would Act Not Always In Accordance With The Wise Men Of This World, But With That Wisdom Which Bringeth Peace.