Made to Do

Set yourself earnestly to see what you are made to do,
and then set yourself earnestly to do it.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

The Truest Help

The truest help we can render an afflicted man
is not to take his burden from him,
but to call out his best energy,
that he may be able to bear the burden.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Living Right

A man who lives right, and is right,
has more power in his silence
than another has by his words.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Bear with Others

Forgive, forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours. Be patient and understanding.

Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Comforted by Goodness

No man or woman can be strong, gentle, pure, and good, without the world being better for it and without someone being helped and comforted by the very existence of that goodness.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Something Larger

Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes contented with the thoughts he is thinking and the deeds he is doing—where there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger; which he knows he was meant and made to do.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

A Life Like Yours

Be such a man, and live such a life,
that if every man were such as you,
and every life a life like yours,
this earth would be God's Paradise.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Do not pray for easy lives

Do not pray for easy lives,
but pray to be stronger men.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers,
but pray for power equal to your tasks.

Then the accomplishing of your work
shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.
Every day you shall wonder at yourself
and the richness of life
which has come to you
by the grace of God.

—The Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)