Tact: the ability to describe others as they see themselves.

Feast of Perpetua, Felicity & their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203 God in His providence has not allowed the survival of actual physical objects. But we have infinitely more than this, for instead of dead relics, however "authentic" and well preserved, we have a living life-line, stretching unbroken to Christ Himself. We have all the comfort and security that comes from historic tradition, but instead of being given the sad nostalgia of looking at an object and saying, "Look, how wonderful! This is what He touched then," we are given an evergreen memorial [in communion] which says, "This is what He touches now.".

As "unkindness has no remedy at law," let its avoidance be with you a point of honor.

Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment.

...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything.

If life were easy, then it would be boring.

Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.

I gave my life for freedom--This I know; For those who bade me fight had told me so.

The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see.

Foxhunting the unspeakable pursuing the inedible.

Indulgent gods, grant me to sin once with impunity. That is sufficient. Let a second offence bear its punishment.

And the wand-like lily which lifted up, As a Maenad, its moonlight-coloured cup, Till the fiery star, which is its eye, Gazed through clear dew on the tender sky.

The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.

Oh, dainty and delicious! Food for the gods! Ambrosia for Apicius! Worthy to thrill the soul of sea-born Venus, Or titillate the palate of Silenus!

It is the silence between the notes that makes the music; it is the space between the bars that holds the tiger.

Feast of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 The first principle of differentiation was laid down by Paul, when dealing with the problems of the spiritual phenomena that had arisen at Corinth... In the confusion of spiritual phenomena, ... it was possible that evil spirits, as well as the Holy Spirit, inspired some of the manifestations. One in particular Paul singles out as being in obvious contradiction to the work of the Spirit of God: "No man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema (cursed)". On the other hand, "No man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit" (I Cor. 12:3). It is difficult to conceive the state of mind of a member of a Christian congregation who would curse the name of Jesus. Yet it is evident that at Corinth, people gave way to such uncontrollable frenzy that, either in folly or in momentary reversion to Judaism or heathenism, they cursed the name in whose honour they had met... But the spirit that inspired disloyalty to Jesus Christ could not be the Holy Spirit, for in Paul's experience and theology, the two beings were, if not identical, at least in perfect harmony of principle and action. This, then, was Paul's first criterion for deciding which spiritual phenomena could be approved by Christians as the work of the Holy Spirit. They must be loyal to Jesus Christ as Lord of life, and as the object of faith and love for every believer. [Continued tomorrow].

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.

Oh, leave this barren spot to me! Spare, woodman, space the beechen tree!

O radiant Dark! O darkly fostered ray! Thou hast a joy too deep for shallow Day.

He is the half part of a blessed man, Left to be finished by such as she; And she a fair divided excellence, Whose fulness of perfection lies in him. -King John. Act ii. Sc. 1.