"Cheerfulness comes from health and hope. Animal spirits make us cheerful in the enjoyment of life and its sensations, but hope and charity give a spiritual cheerfulness, and even gayety of manner, which is very delightful. As far as possible, we should never show gloom or melancholy to those around us. If we carefully conceal what is unpleasant in our bodies, we should do no less with our humors or dispositions. We should never let it be seen that we are angry, cross, peevish or low-spirited, where such mental states can give disquiet or pain to others. But the best way is never to be angry, cross, peevish, fretful or disagreeable."
The above came from "The Glory of Woman or Love, Marriage and Maternity" by Monfort Allen and Amelia McGregor, published in 1896.
Imagine what the world would be like if nobody was ever disagreeable!
Margaret xx
If only! Tolerance, good manners and empathy seem in short supply now and it is a delightful surprise to meet with a genuine smile from a shop worker, rather than a grunt and a scowl!
ReplyDeleteGood grief. Times have changed. Let it out. Or some of it. It's healthier, so they say nowadays.
ReplyDeleteA smile to strangers, a thank you and a please, YES
I so love thst wisteria!
ReplyDeleteI am happy we are to a time in history when people can express their feelings in healthy ways. What an incredible standard was set for women years ago. That wisteria is gorgeous. Have a great week, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world this could be our reality. Unfortunately we live in a very imperfect world with exasperated and cranky people but thankfully there are also pleasant, cheerful ones. Maybe even the cranky ones on a different day.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine if that quote really happened, everyone would get along much nicer and not fight so much - what a thought.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Wisteria!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that it is only advice to women. Would make for a boring old world I say - expressing and debating differing views (and the emotions they invoke) is how we grow in mind and spirit.
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