Personal Feeling

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 6, 1910

“O, it was no matter of principle, you know,” answered a lady, when a friend expressed surprise that in aiding to carry out an enterprise in which she was engaged with others, she had accepted plans and associations known to be disagreeable to her. “It was only a little personal feeling of mine, and it was not necessary that it should have the right of way.”

The reply revealed a character sweet and strong, trained to reasonableness and unselfishness. With too many the personal feeling is always first, and claims free course whatever may be hindered or pushed aside by it; mood and prejudice, like and dislike, take the right of way, and dominate the life.

It is rare self-control when one has learned to govern one's likes and dislikes, rather than be governed by them; to say to such feelings, “You may exist, but you shall not rule. Duty, justice, the right of others, shall take precedence always.”—Forward.