MOTTOES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 272, 24 January 1929, Page 2

MOTTOES.

THEIR STRENGTH AND INFLUENCE. (By Elsie G. Evans) There is hardly a person who has not known at some time or another the overwhelming desire to sla>np. Sometimes it is mental or spiritual; sometimes physical. Without consciously thinking, a half-forgotten

motto may flash into the mind to act as a goad or an encouragement to further endeavour. The unwilling spirit or the flesh is spurred on to Ithe performance of its duties. The desire to let things slide for awhile is overcome. Such a little victory perhaps, but nevertheless something towards the great whole of striving steadfastly to meet commonplace daily duties and obligations. Once I again there has been a lifting from the valley of evasion to the mountain top of endeavour. We hear and read a great deal of sinning, but how little we learn of all the good actions performed! I venture to say that every man and woman daily does a good action; perhaps unwittingly. It may be just a kindly pat on the head of a small child; or a pleasant word and conI sideration for the tradesman at the

door. Not so very much in themselves, but great in their effects on the child and the man. They respond to the kindness and warmth expressed. In consequence confidence in the “ decency ” of humans in general more firmly established. I asked quite a number of people recently what motto had been a a guide and help to them along the years. Almost invariably they quoted the first few words of the Golden Rule. “Do unto others.” For the most part they were people leading quiet, unobtrusive lives, looking after their families and houses. Yet these words were guiding them unerringly along the path of true beauty—the beauty of the spirit. Through their influence they were sowing the seed of universal love. This little insight into what appeared on the surface to be drab lives was the most heartening thing in the world. The effects of their maxim are such that the spiritual foundations for future posterity will be firmer than ever. A successful business man, whom I had known in his bread-and-drip-ping days, attributed his success to the motto, “ Fight on,” to which he had clung throughout all his vicissitudes. When his affairs had seemed most dismal he had always sought encouragement from these two words. He said that an individual has failed

only when he has stopped trying. We find that from infancy to maturity we have adopted mottoes, very often unconsciously, that have had an influence upon our actions all through life. Teacher’s “ Honesty is the best policy,” the most trite of maxims, loses its early childhood meaning, but still clinging to us takes on a vastly greater import as we reach more mature years. Then that classroom motto: “ What is worth doing is worth doing well,” how often has that helped us to carry out something really well ? Father’s “ Work conquers all things,” and mother’s “Be ye not weary of well-doing,” have all had an influence on our actions. We, in our turn, shall have, through our maxims, a great influence upon those with whom we come in contact. More especially upon those whose early training is in our hands. So much good can be done by the very mottoes with which we choose to rule our actions. Their influence has far-reaching effects. “ I expect to pass through this World but once ; any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now : let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” One could not go far wrong in choosing a motto like this.