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Article ON FORTITUDE. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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On Fortitude.
Far from being of a stern or rugged quality , it is indispensably necessary to support that gentleness and sweetness of disposition which form the charm of social life , and which can never be long preserved , by those who have not fortitude to bear the vexations they must often meet with from the weaknesses and inadvertencies , and even from the pride and ill temper of those with whom they converse .
That ' spirit ( as it is commonly called ) which immediately resents every trifling injury , and endeavours to return it , is in fact a weakness—a proof of not being able to bear them . True fortitude can conquer it ; and without this no apparent gentleness of character can ever be depended on , since it will only last till there is sufficient provocation to get the better of it . . .
To the want of this kind of fortitude much of the unhappiness of society is owing . A trifle gives offence and is resented ; we cannot bear a little mortification or humiliation ; or , perhaps , we cannot bear to appear to want spirit to resent such things , and do ourselves justice . True fortitude can bear it all , whenever it is our duty to do so ; and few consider the importance of exerting it on such occasions . It enables us to acknowledge our errors and our faultsinstead of
, having recourse to any artifice or misrepresentation to disguise or justify what the heart in secret disapproves ,, or must disapprove on a fair and impartial consideration ; to which , want of fortitude to bear the mortifying view of our own imperfections , is often one of the
greatest hindrances . > In great afflictions fortitude is exerted- not only in . suppressing complaints and murmurs , but in rendering us superior to them , by enabling us to take an enlarged view of things ; to consider the hand from which they come , and the advantages which may be . derived from , -them ; and it inspires not merely a fame submission , but an active resolutionwhich in :: ial exerts its utmost and
, ; every powers excites us" to do the best we can , whatever that may be , and whatever struggle such exertion , may . cost us . In short , if . enables us to make the best of every thing ,., to pursue steadily , and constantly the path of duty , unmoved by all the attacks of pleasure or of pain , and unwearied by the most tedious and apparentlunsuccessfulexertions
y , , In-order to obtain this fortitude-we cannot but be sensible that a strength ! superior to , our own is necessary : the experience of every , day must shew us our weakness ,-. and the insufficiency of- those . sup- ? ports-which any . thing in this world can afford us . But the word of eternal trutlv . has promised , us a help which shallneverfail those who sincerely seek-. for it .. for thisthenwe must applyby constant
; , , , prayer , notonly in general , but in every . particular , instanqe ,. But we must'not suppose . that this help can be . obtained without exerting our own . endeavours ; . we must do our best that , we may hope to be assisted ; , and in so doing . we may sgcurejy ; depend , upon it in every ( trial that can come upon us .. '
Too great a confidence in our own strength is , indeed , directly ? outcry to . tru § . £ brtrtude , and generally lea ^ s to a . defeat ; but wn R ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Fortitude.
Far from being of a stern or rugged quality , it is indispensably necessary to support that gentleness and sweetness of disposition which form the charm of social life , and which can never be long preserved , by those who have not fortitude to bear the vexations they must often meet with from the weaknesses and inadvertencies , and even from the pride and ill temper of those with whom they converse .
That ' spirit ( as it is commonly called ) which immediately resents every trifling injury , and endeavours to return it , is in fact a weakness—a proof of not being able to bear them . True fortitude can conquer it ; and without this no apparent gentleness of character can ever be depended on , since it will only last till there is sufficient provocation to get the better of it . . .
To the want of this kind of fortitude much of the unhappiness of society is owing . A trifle gives offence and is resented ; we cannot bear a little mortification or humiliation ; or , perhaps , we cannot bear to appear to want spirit to resent such things , and do ourselves justice . True fortitude can bear it all , whenever it is our duty to do so ; and few consider the importance of exerting it on such occasions . It enables us to acknowledge our errors and our faultsinstead of
, having recourse to any artifice or misrepresentation to disguise or justify what the heart in secret disapproves ,, or must disapprove on a fair and impartial consideration ; to which , want of fortitude to bear the mortifying view of our own imperfections , is often one of the
greatest hindrances . > In great afflictions fortitude is exerted- not only in . suppressing complaints and murmurs , but in rendering us superior to them , by enabling us to take an enlarged view of things ; to consider the hand from which they come , and the advantages which may be . derived from , -them ; and it inspires not merely a fame submission , but an active resolutionwhich in :: ial exerts its utmost and
, ; every powers excites us" to do the best we can , whatever that may be , and whatever struggle such exertion , may . cost us . In short , if . enables us to make the best of every thing ,., to pursue steadily , and constantly the path of duty , unmoved by all the attacks of pleasure or of pain , and unwearied by the most tedious and apparentlunsuccessfulexertions
y , , In-order to obtain this fortitude-we cannot but be sensible that a strength ! superior to , our own is necessary : the experience of every , day must shew us our weakness ,-. and the insufficiency of- those . sup- ? ports-which any . thing in this world can afford us . But the word of eternal trutlv . has promised , us a help which shallneverfail those who sincerely seek-. for it .. for thisthenwe must applyby constant
; , , , prayer , notonly in general , but in every . particular , instanqe ,. But we must'not suppose . that this help can be . obtained without exerting our own . endeavours ; . we must do our best that , we may hope to be assisted ; , and in so doing . we may sgcurejy ; depend , upon it in every ( trial that can come upon us .. '
Too great a confidence in our own strength is , indeed , directly ? outcry to . tru § . £ brtrtude , and generally lea ^ s to a . defeat ; but wn R ?