Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?
PolycarpRead
Beware of greed and remain pure and just. Restrain yourself from every vice. He who cannot restrain himself, how will he be able to teach others restraint?
Interpretation
The quote warns against the dangers of greed and emphasizes the importance of self-restraint and moral integrity.
Polycarp's quote serves as a reminder that one must prioritize purity and justice while avoiding the temptations of greed. It underscores the idea that self-discipline is crucial not only for personal development but also for being an effective leader or teacher, as one cannot guide others if they cannot control their own impulses.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about personal integrity.
Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?
Do you know this Sanskrit Shloka: "Let those who are versed in the ethical codes praise or blame, let Lakshmi, the goddess of Fortune, come or go wherever she wisheth, let death overtake him today or after a century, the wise man never swerves from the path of rectitude." Let people praise you or blame you, let fortune smile or frown upon you, let your body fall today or after a Yuga, see that you do not deviate from the path of Truth.
What do years have to do with age?
We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.
Terrible things happen all of the time, and they can happen in a second. The best thing is to be prepared to react. If you try to control every little thing, you're going to end up miserable - and you're going to fail.
A man's indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude.
Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.
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