MARCH, Daniel Quotes
(1816-1919), American divine
The proverb condenses the meaning and power of a thousand words into one short and simple sentence, and it is the more effective because it carries so much force in so compact a form.
Proverbs are in the world of thought what gold coin is in the world of business—great value in small compass, and equally current among all people. Sometimes the proverb may be false, the coin counterfeit, but in both cases the false proves the value of the true.
Simple words, short maxims, homely truths, old sayings, are the masters of the world. In them is the hiding of the power that forms the character, controls conduct, and makes individuals and nations what they are. Great reformations, great revolutions in society, great eras in human progress and improvement, start from good words, right words, sound words, spoken in the fitting time, and finding their way to human hearts as easily as the birds find their homes.
The great thinker is seldom a disputant. He answers other men's arguments by stating the truth as he sees it.
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