—HENRI AMIEL
I see a new religion based on mutual trust, which appeals to our deepest selves, and which teaches that a person should love goodness without reward, and that the divine exists in everyone.
In different ways and in different tongues, all humanity repeats the words of the Lord’s prayer, “Let thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
—GIUSEPPE MAZZINI
Do not think that you will personally see the coming of the kingdom of God. But have no doubt that it will come soon: it is coming closer and closer, without hesitation.
December 21
At the highest level of consciousness, an individual is alone. Such solitude can seem strange, unusual, even difficult. Foolish people try to escape it by means of various dissipations in order to get away from this high point, to some point lower, but wise people remain at this high point, with the help of prayer.
God wants us to fulfill his will here on earth, in our lives. But life’s interests and passions distract us from this every minute. When we understand this, we can gird ourselves with the physical expression of our attitude to God, prayer.
A personality is a limitation and, therefore, God, as we understand Him, is not a personality. Prayer is our address to God and yet how can we address one who has no personality? I address God as if He were a person, though I know it is not so.
A person buried in a deep mine, freezing from the cold in deep ice, dying from hunger alone on the open sea, wasting away in solitude in a prison cell, or simply dying at home, deaf and blind—how could this person live out the remainder of his life if prayer did not exist?
How good a person feels when, exhausted from striving for goodness in his everyday life, he stretches out his hands to God.
—BLAISE PASCAL
One can live without prayer either when he is possessed by his passions or when his life is completely dedicated to God. But for a person who is fighting his passion and yet far from fulfilling his duty, prayer is a necessary condition of life.
December 22
Nothing seems to check the notion that the way to improve civilization is affected by changing its outer forms. This notion is false, and draws the activity of too many people away from effort that truly can improve our lives.
Civilization is first of all a moral thing. Without truth, respect for duty, love of neighbor, virtue, everything is destroyed. The morality of a society is alone the basis of civilization.
—HENRI AMIEL
The proper direction of man’s thought is not toward the creation of new laws for government, but toward the acceptance of every person’s moral dignity.
—EDMUND YATES
Socialism, when compared with Christianity, is a rather minor, secondary question about the material needs of the working class. It stands outside the basic questions of human life.
—FYODOR STRAKHOV
We should, first of all, understand that we are all children of the same father, and we should fulfill the same general law: live not for ourselves, but to help others be happy.
—GIUSEPPE MAZZINI
When we accept false and violent laws and submit to them, we can neither establish truth nor combat lies in this world.
December 23
Wisdom is understanding how eternal truth can be applied to life.
Socrates was the first who brought philosophy from heaven, distributed it among the people, and enticed them to study the science of life, human morals, and the consequences of good and evil.
Science is seldom connected with wisdom. A scholarly person knows many unnecessary things. A wise person knows few things, but all that he knows is necessary both for humanity and for himself.
He who understands his soul will understand the divine spark within himself.
—MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO
Wise people cannot be sufficiently educated, and educated people cannot be sufficiently wise.
—LAO-TZU
The goodness given to us by wisdom compares to all other knowledge in the same way that in a desert, a vessel filled with water compares to mountains of gold.
December 24
Starting from early childhood, as we age we feel the growth of our spiritual power and the diminution of our physical power.
Older people who live spiritual lives ever widen their spiritual horizons, and ever expand their consciences. Older people who live only a daily routine become more and more stupid over the years.
—The TALMUD
One becomes older in order to become kinder; there is no mistake which I have not already made.
—JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
The growth and development of the soul is more important than power and glory.
—HENRI AMIEL
The growth of our physical energy prepares us for spiritual work, for serving God and mankind; this work starts when our body begins to fade away.
Grow spiritually and help others to do so; it is the meaning of life.
Terrible is the situation of those who cannot perceive spiritual growth in themselves. They can see only physical life, which will disappear in time.
When you understand your spiritual being and live with it, then instead of despairing you understand the joy that can never be destroyed, which always grows.
December 25
Kindness and virtue come from the heart, and should be performed without thought for the opinion of others, or of future rewards.
Virtue and charity start at home. If you have to go somewhere to display it, then it is not virtue.
Assistance given to the poor by the rich is too often just a gesture of politeness, not real charity.
Charity is good only when it comes as a sacrifice; only then do those who receive the material gift receive the spiritual gift too. If it is not a sacrifice but a discharge of excess, it can only irritate those who receive it.
December 26
Childhood is the period in which underlying convictions are formed. Therefore, the most important part of education is the selection of the things of which a child should be convinced.
Talking and reasoning does not even have one thousandth the influence a true example has. All lessons about how to behave are worthless when children see the opposite in real life.
What use is it for children when people only speak about goodness, but perform bad deeds in reality?
—GUSTAV STRUVE
The strong desire for a pleasant and ideal life is a child’s worst misfortune. It is crucial that children should know how to work from an early age.
—IMMANUEL KANT
It is important to teach children kindness and simplicity in life and work. All of children’s moral and spiritual education should be supported by your own good example. You should live virtuously, or at least try to do so; the success of your good life will educate your children.
December 27
All that we see and know does not exist in reality, because it is the product of our limited ability to understand reality.
Instead of saying that the world is reflected in our intellect, better to say that our intellect is reflected in the world.
—GEORGE LICHTENBERG
Old fortresses are destroyed, monuments to kings are demolished, old age ravages our bodies. Only the teachings of kindness are never ruined or affected by age.