anger, both are always in the wrong. WSD:3:5 The most burdensome person in any community is the one who will not do what he is capable of doing because he cannot do the things he wants to do. Every man must learn the difference between the little things he can do alone and the greater things, which can be done with the co-operation
of others, for unity bestows strength. WSD:3:6 Always be generous in your dealings with a neighbour and bear in mind that as water quenches fire, so does cheerful restitution atone for a wrong. When a neighbour greets you cheerfully, answer him in the same
manner, for a surly face or a frown frightens away the hand of friendship. Generosity and kind-heartedness are excellent qualities, but those who possess them should be vigilant, for it is not inconceivable that the goodness they do may sometimes result in more evil than good.
WSD:3:7 Always treat the property of your neighbour or his friends as you would wish your own property and friends to be treated. Never speak without thought, for words cannot be recalled and things said may remain beyond recall forever. A lightly spoken word may ruin a life or destroy the contentment of a family. The guiding rule is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the moment when it is most tempting to utter it. This is the rule of conversation: Is it true, is it
instructive, is it kind, is it necessary? WSD:3:8 Do not be crude in speech or rough in manner, for these reveal a hidden weakness. Courtesy, consideration and good manners are necessary ingredients in the cement of neighbourliness. The cement of friendship is
mutual suffering.
WSD:3:9 A man should never talk to a woman in a manner, which would outrage her modesty, but common women have sacrificed their modesty and cannot be outraged. Therefore, the manner of a man's speech in the presence
of a woman indicates his opinion of her and her reputation. Always be vigilant when in the company of women, for no greater insult can be offered to a man than to imply that his wife, mother, daughter or sister is a common woman. A strong man can afford to be gentle and quiet wherever he is, but a weak man must be rough and boastful to boost himself. The man who is always boosting himself is certainly one who needs boosting.
WSD:3:10 If some misfortune has befallen a neighbour, or he is out of favour with the rulers, he will be suffering the miseries of shame, and therefore to visit him under these circumstances might add to it. It is a matter of discretion and tact as to when he should be visited. Whatever he has done, treat him with kindness and consideration. The fruits of kindness are sweet, but the fruits of hatred and malice lie heavily on the stomach. As surely as night follows day, as a man deals with others, so will he be dealt with. WSD:3:11 If a man does not wish his own possessions to be touched, he should show the same respect for the possessions of another man. Likewise,
if he respects his own reputation and expects others to respect it also, he should hold the reputation of others in the same high regard. If he does not wish to become the subject of gossip, he should not gossip about anyone else.
WSD:3:12 As a man expects his own home and family to be treated, so should he treat the home and family of another. As he cherishes the good name of his wife and the welfare of his children, so should he cherish the good name of another's wife and the welfare of his children.
WSD:3:13 Deal charitably with your neighbours, and wherever the opportunity to do good arises, do not hesitate to do it. However, a single act of charity means that the heart has been stirred only once. It may be just a sudden urge that passes, and charity is a continuing process.
WSD:3:14 A man can find peace and happiness in his home only when his wife and family have it, and these things cannot be portioned out. The man with strife at home has a lot more misery than that of a hungry dog. When a guest, bear in mind that the ways of a host are always right in the
eyes of his guest.
WSD:3:15 Always live according to your beliefs, for to do otherwise is hypocrisy. One of the tasks of the Good Religion is to teach men that they have to bridge the great gap between what they believe to be right and the way they live. Also, though many men know how they should live very few
do in fact live that way.
WSD:3:16 Though it is proper for a man to marry early, it is not right to marry with undue haste. For a man to take a wife before he can support her, or before he can understand her, is foolishness. The man who takes a wife in unwise haste ties a millstone around his own neck and can blame none but himself for the consequences. A man should never take a wife until he has read through the Sacred Books many times. WSD:3:17 Stand firm in your belief as to what is right and what is wrong. Never surrender your principles or betray your ideals. Yet, do not let your mind become bigoted or prejudiced, for the man of unchanging mind is as water, which, standing still, becomes stagnant and filled with slime. His thoughts are like water imprisoned within a vase until it becomes foul.
WSD:3:18 Tact and self-control, the exercise of moderation in all things and a disciplined ambition with attainable aim, a kind heart and truthful tongue, these are the things, which smooth the way along the path of life. The maggots that eat away the body of peace and contentment are: undue haste, thoughtlessness, indifference and malice. WSD:3:19 Do not be unduly afraid of being poor. It is better to have only a few possessions with just sufficient to maintain the health of the body, than to have vitality-sapping and spiritual-enervating abundance of the rich.
Happiness cannot be bought, and a joyful heart makes a healthy body. Pure love, not wealth, is the most desirable of treasures, for it hallows the brief days of life and fills them to overflowing with spiritual wealth of everlasting
value.
WSD:3:20 Along the high road of life, man and woman must walk together hand in hand. The two together are meant to make their joint love a harmonious whole, and the life of one without the other is incomplete. Yet in these times, true matrimonial harmony appears to be one of the most difficult things to achieve, because of the spiritual immaturity resulting from the inadequacy of existing religious doctrines. This, too, must be remedied. WSD:3:21 Do not be too hasty in judging a wrongdoer, for it may well be that though he has been found in some wickedness, the good in him is greater than the good in you. Perhaps in the Divine View, he is a better man than you
are. Disobedience to the laws of men with the sincere and considered intention of doing good, is better than abject submission to them without any
such motive.
WSD:3:22 The golden rule of harmonious living is that a man must master his desires, control his will and serve his conscience.
Chapter Four - Defects of Character
WSD:4:1 The man who talks much does so to cover his own weakness. Words, of themselves, are worthless things and where there is much talk there is little action. Words alone are lifeless things having no value until they are quickened within the heart and demonstrated in deeds. Therefore, the rule is never to engage in idle chatter and always to avoid the company of
those who babble. WSD:4:2 Those who find pleasure in chattering and gossip display the outward signs of a small and irresponsible mind. Those who sow mischief with their tongue can be assured that they will reap the harvest of scorn. Speech is one of the qualities, which set men apart from the animals, but it is
also a drug to be handled with care. Therefore, treat all words as an apothecary does the drugs of a prescription. They must be carefully measured out and weighed, with every precaution taken against an overdose. WSD:4:3 Over-indulgence in talk displays a defect of character. Therefore, even when praising another or lauding his virtue, excessive talk should be avoided, lest the speaker be accused of hypocrisy or patronage. Effusive speech is the babbling water flowing over a shallow mind. Nothing is more becoming for the intelligent man than silence, and how much more so for one who is not! WSD:4:4 The motto for those who follow the Good Religion should be: 'Say little, and do much. Replace words with deeds.' The good will find this no hardship, but the wicked will prefer talk to action. The mouth of a man is like a horse; it must be restrained by firm control and bridled before it can serve him. If allowed out of control it will carry him off to calamity. Therefore, guard your tongue as you would your wealth, bearing in mind that the less the words spoken the less the errors made. WSD:4:5 Though all the wisdom of the past condemns overindulgence in chatter, this still grows in volume, while the ills of the world do not lessen, though they may change in nature. Therefore, if you would serve the Good Religion well, hold your tongue in check. Do not overlook it in youth, then in maturity, it may pour out wisdom, which will advance the greater cause of