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Literary
March 8, 1876
Spirit Of The Age
Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A prose reflection titled 'Golden Words' emphasizes the value of optimism, advising against dwelling on lacks and difficulties, and instead promoting resilience by adapting to losses and appreciating what remains.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Golden Words.
The habit of looking on the bright side is invaluable. Men and women who are evermore reckoning up what they want—rather than what they have—counting the difficulties in the way, instead of contriving means to overcome them—are almost certain to live on corn bread, fat pork and salt fish, and sink to unmarked graves. The world is sure to be successful, but let him go about with a crestfallen air, and the dogs in the street will set up on him. We must all have losses. Late frosts will nip the fruit in the bud, banks will break, investments will prove worthless, valuable horses will die, and vessels will be shipwrecked, and China vases will break, but all these calamities do not come together. The wise course to pursue, when one plan fails, to form another, when one prop is knocked from under us, to fill its place with a substitute, and evermore count up what is left, rather than what is taken.
The habit of looking on the bright side is invaluable. Men and women who are evermore reckoning up what they want—rather than what they have—counting the difficulties in the way, instead of contriving means to overcome them—are almost certain to live on corn bread, fat pork and salt fish, and sink to unmarked graves. The world is sure to be successful, but let him go about with a crestfallen air, and the dogs in the street will set up on him. We must all have losses. Late frosts will nip the fruit in the bud, banks will break, investments will prove worthless, valuable horses will die, and vessels will be shipwrecked, and China vases will break, but all these calamities do not come together. The wise course to pursue, when one plan fails, to form another, when one prop is knocked from under us, to fill its place with a substitute, and evermore count up what is left, rather than what is taken.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Optimism
Resilience
Adversity
Moral Advice
Positive Thinking
Literary Details
Title
Golden Words.
Key Lines
The Habit Of Looking On The Bright Side Is Invaluable.
The Wise Course To Pursue, When One Plan Fails, To Form Another, When One Prop Is Knocked From Under Us, To Fill Its Place With A Substitute, And Evermore Count Up What Is Left, Rather Than What Is Taken.