Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1856-01-08
Advantages Of Decision Of Character.

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OSE signal advantage possessed by q
mind Of this character is, that it's pas.
sions are not wasted. The whole amount
Of passion which any mind, with impor.
lant transactions before it, is ca apabIe, is
not more than enough to supply interest
ard energy 10 its practical exer.ions /:
and. therefore, as little as possible Of
this sacred fire should be expended in a
way that does not augment the force Of
action. Blu, nothing can less contribute
TO vigof Of effort, than prolractcd anxious
fu:luation, intermixed with resolutions
dec ded and revoked, while yet nothing
causes greater expense Of feeling. The
heart is fre,ted and exh austed by being
subjected 10 an alienation OF contrary
exciiemen,s, with the ultimate notifying
consciousness Of their contributing to no
end.
The long wavering delibera,ion, wheth
er to perform some bold action OF diff.
cult virtue, has often cost more to feeling
than the action itself, or series of such
actions, would havt cost with the great
disadvantage, too. of being relieved by
none Of that IMMIGRATION which, to the
man in action, would have sprung from
the spirit Of the action itself, and have
renovated the ardor which il was expen.
ding. A person Of decisive character,
by consuming as lille passion as posi-.
Bile n dubious musings and abortive res.
olutions. can secure its utmost value and
use. by throwing it all into effective op.
Grafton.
Another advantage OF this character is,
that it exempts from g,eut deal OF inter.
ference and persecution, to which an IT,.
rcsolute man is subjected. Weakness.
in every form, tempts arrogance; and 8
man may be allowed to wish for q kind
Of character with which stupidity and
impertinence may not make SO ffee.-
When firm decisive spirit is rec cognised,
it is curious to see how the space clears
around man. and leaves him room and
freedom. The disposition 10 in,errogste.
dictate, or banter. preserves respectful
and polite distance. judging it not un.
wise to keep the peace with a person ol
so much energy. A conviction that he
understands and that he Wills with ex.
traordinsry force, silsnces the conceit
tha, intended to perplex or instruct him,
and intimidates the malice that was dis.
posed 10 attack him. There is feeling,
as in respect TO fate. that the DEGREES
Of so infexible a spirit mast be right,
or that, at least, they will be accom-.
lpllshed.
But not only will he secure the free.
dom Of acting for himself, he will obtain
also. by degrees, the. coincidence Of those
in whose company he is to transact the
business oflife. 1.-THE manners Of such
q MN are free from arrogance, aud he
can qualify his firmness with moderate
degree Of insinuation and il his meas.
ures have partly lost the appearance ol
being the dictates o. his will, under the
wider and softer sanction Of svme expe
rience that they are reasonable; both
competition and fear will be laid 10 sleep,
and his will may acquire an unresisted
ascendency over many who will be
pleased to fall into The mechanism Of q
system, which makes them more success.
fal and happy than they could have been
amidst the anxiety Of adjusting plans and
expedients Of their own, and the conse.
quences Of often adjusting them ill.
have known several parents, both faith.
ers and mothers, WHOSE fnsrsgement Of
| their families has saawered this descrip.
1tion; end has displsyed striking ex.
ample Of the fscile complacency with
which number Of persons. Of different
sges and dispositions. will yield 70 the
decisions Of a firm mind, acting on an
! squitsble and enlightened system.
The last rssource Of this character is
lhard, in6exible pertinsci,y, on which Il
may BE- allowed 10 rsst ito strength, sftsr
4 6nding il can be ei1eclual In nons Of its
! miiles forms. fresnembsf admitting IN
linslancs Of this kind Ia tirm, ssgscious
and yssy sstimsbls old man, whom l we'll
knew and who il snAw dsad. Being on
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