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My optimism, then, does not rest on the absence of evil, but on a glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always to coöperate with the good, that it may prevail.

In the midst of my perplexity I read an essay of Stevenson which made me feel as if I had been "outing" in the sunshine, instead of losing heart over a difficult task. I tried again with new courage and succeeded almost before I knew it.

But during the first nineteen months of my life I had caught glimpses of broad, green fields, a luminous sky, trees and flowers which the darkness that followed could not wholly blot out.

Then comes hope with a smile and whispers, "There is joy in self-forgetfulness." So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun, the music in others' ears my symphony, the smile on others' lips my happiness.

Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting-point for future power and triumph.

You wrote with no thoughts of fame and money, and put your heart into it, my daughter. You have had the bitter, now comes the sweet. Do your best, and grow as happy as we are in your success.

You mayn’t get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them.

And, Leslie, I can’t help believing that life has something good and beautiful for you yet.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Antarctic exploration is seldom as bad as you imagine, seldom as bad as it sounds.

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.

For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.

for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.

Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.

I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope! Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

A phase of my life was closing to-night, a new one opening to-morrow: impossible to slumber in the interval; I must watch feverishly while the change was being accomplished.

My world had for some years been in Lowood: my experience had been of its rules and systems; now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.