Gentlemen

Being unkind towards others is corrosive to all things good, and is not least, corrosive to our humanity. Even those whom we detest with the greatest furry are still our brothers and sisters, are still flesh and blood, and composed of the same frailties and fears that haunt us all. Does it behoove us, then, to deny others the courtesy of kindness – even if they would, in similar circumstances, not grant us the same? No, say I. What kind of a world would we create with such disdainful venom coursing through our veins? It would be, say I, a place where fear and distrust would rule, and where spite and suspicion would be our only tools of engagement.

Reject this, say I. Reject suspicion - in favor of hope. Reject spite - in favour of forgiveness. Reject distrust - in favour of trust. And above all, reject unkindness - in favour of kindness - indeed, in favour of humanity. For as someone once told me, many years ago, “The test of a true gentleman is in his kindness towards those who can be of no use to him.” Does this not seem more the world in which you and I would like to live? TDM

mouse house

This picture was taken just outside of Ottawa on a cool September afternoon. As Janey hunted for more mushrooms, I snapped a couple of this one. If I could re-take this one again, however, I would have blurred the background by allowing more light in - "where's the next one Janey?" (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Adam Smith, an appeal to ourselves

This is an interesting quote I came across from Adam Smith. "It is not the soft power of humanity, it is not that feeble spark of benevolence which Nature has lighted up in the human heart, that is thus capable of counteracting the strongest impulses of self-love. It is a stronger power, a more forcible motive, which exerts itself upon such occasions. It is reason, principle, conscience, the inhabitant of the breast, the man within, the great judge and arbiter of our conduct. It is he who, whenever we are about to act so as to affect the happiness of others, calls to us, with a voice capable of astonishing the most presumptuous of our passions, that we are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it; and that when we prefer ourselves so shamefully and so blindly to others, we become the proper objects of resentment, abhorrence, and execration. It is from him only that we learn the real littleness of ourselves".

nature

This is a naturally occurring flower along the Ottawa. Isn't it just remarkable how beautiful nature really is - all by itself? That this type of beauty exists, quietly and discreetly, without any desire to be seen or noticed by Man, is truly remarkable. (Photo by Tom Marshall)