[Twnsqr] musings on virtue, from A

[Kenna62 at aol.com]

Since debates on virtue started with  Aristotle and became a big part of our 
household culture, and many of you  wear them on your person (as all of you 
carry them in your soul and demonstrate  them with your actions), here are some 
thoughts to add to the discussion from  words written in 1830 (critiquing the 
story of Ivanhoe):
 
..."a character of a  highly virtuous and lofty stamp is degraded rather than 
exalted by an attempt to  reward virtue with temporal prosperity.  Such is 
not the recompense which  Providence has deemed worthy of suffering merit, and 
it is a dangerous and fatal  doctrine to teach young persons, that rectitude of 
conduct and of principle are  either naturally allied with, or adequately 
rewarded by, the gratification of  our passions, or attainment of our wishes.  In 
a word, if a virtuous and  self-denied character is dismissed with temporal 
wealth, greatness, or  rank... one would be apt to say that verily, virtue has 
had its  reward.  But a glance on the great picture of life will show, that 
the  duties of self-denial, and the sacrifices of passion to principle, are 
seldom  thus remunerated; and that the internal consciousness of their high-minded 
 discharge of duty, produces on their own reflections of a more adequate  
recompense, in the form of that peace which the world cannot give or take  away."
 
And if such musings please you not this Easter  morning, then perhaps you may 
enjoy instead (or also) these newest movie quotes  coming soon to a game near 
you:
    "-Think they got  waffles?
    -I am not talking to you.  I got  beat up because of you."
 
    "You are strange and off-putting.   Go now."
(Yeah, I know those don't really go together, but my brain has lots of  
channels...  Do try to keep up.)
 
May spring's warmth and vitality -that will not  be denied even by more snow- 
renew your spirit and fill you  with 'jubilance.'
Love,
 
Araviere
 



**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL 
Home.      
(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wealdsmere.org/pipermail/townsquare_wealdsmere.org/attachments/20080323/31c944f5/attachment.html