[97]
[97] "He who subdueth his temper is a mighty man," says the
Talmudist; and Solomon had said so before him: "He that
is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov.
xvi, 32). A curious parallel to these words is found in
an ancient Buddhistic work, entitled _Buddha's
Dhammapada_, or Path of Virtue, as follows: "If one man
conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and
if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of
conquerors." (Professor Max Mueller's translation,
prefixed to _Buddhagosha's Parables_, translated by
Captain Rogers.)
When a liar speaks the truth, he finds his punishment in being generally
disbelieved.
The physician who prescribes gratuitously gives a worthless
prescription.
He who hardens his heart with pride softens his brains with the same.
The day is short, the labour vast; but the labourers are still slothful,
though the reward is great, and the Master presseth for despatch.[98]
[98] Cf. Saadi, _ante_, page 41, "Life is snow," etc.
He who teacheth a child is like one who writeth on new paper; and he who
teacheth old people is like one who writeth on blotted paper.[99]
[99] Locke was anticipated not only by the Talmudist, as
above, but long before him by Aristotle, who termed the
infant soul _tabula rasa_, which was in all likelihood
borrowed by the author of the Persian work on the
practical philosophy of the Muhammedans, entitled
_Akhlak-i-Jalaly_, who says: "The minds of children are
like a clear tablet, equally open to all inscriptions.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299