MOTTOES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 41, 24 December 1920, Page 15

MOTTOES.

DESTINY DETERMINED BY A MAXIM.

Many men who have left their mark on the world have been powerfully influenced bj^ some motto or maxirn. Many a great man owes his success in life to the inspiration of a single hook, a chance remark, a lecture, or perhaps a sermon. A high ideal crystallised into a motto and constantly held up before a young man has often, says Orison Marden in '-'The Woman's Magazine," determined a whole destiny. Ruskin always kept on his desk a piece of chalcedony inscrihed with the word "To-day." This was to remind him of the preciousness of time, and of the possibilities of what could be put into a day in the way of achievement, of growth and of enjoyment. Here is a motto. which had a great influence upon Garfield's life: "There are some things I am afraid of — I am afraid to do a mean thing." Another was: "Things do not turn up in this world until somebody turns them up." Not long since I saw this motto in a business man's office: "Be brief. Wa have" our living to make, and it takes considerable of our time to do it." Here are a few mottoes which have inspired men 'and women who have brought things to pass : — - "Don't worry, it won't last — nothing does." "On the great clock of time there is but one word — Now." "We get out of life just what we put into it." "What is put into the first of life is put into the whole of life." "We stamp our own values, upon ourselves, and cannot expect to pass for more. ' ' "Every day ahead of you is precious, the days behind you have no existence at all." "The energy wasted in postponing a duty for to-morrow which ought to be done to-day will often do the work." "You must take joy with you, or you will not find it even in heaven." "The first thing to do, if you have not done it, is to fall in love with your work." "A la.zy man is of no more ise than a dead man, and he takes up more room."