Do Your Best | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 22, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 40.

Do Your Best.

A GENTLEMAN once said to a physician, "I should think that at night you would feel so worried over the work of the day that you would not be able to sleep."

"My head hardly touches the pillow, when I fall asleep," replied the physician. "I made up my mind," he continued, "at the commencement of my professional career, to do my best under all circumstances; and, so doing, I am not troubled by any misgivings."

A good rule for us to follow. Too many are disposed to say: "No matter how I do this work now; next time I'll do better." The practice is as bad as the reasoning. "No matter how I learn this lesson in the lower class; when I get into a higher department, then I'll study." As well might the mother in knitting stockings say: "No matter how the tip is done; even if I do drop a stitch now and then, I'll do better when I get further along." What kind of a stocking would that be?

As well might the builder say: "I don't care how I make the foundation of this house; anything will do here. Wait till I get to the top, then I'll do good work."

Said Sir Joshua Reynolds once to Dr. Samuel Johnson, "Pray tell me, sir, by what means have you attained such extraordinary accuracy and flow of language in the expression of your ideas?"

"I laid it down as a fixed rule," replied the doctor, "to do my best on every occasion, and in every company to impart what I know in the most forcible language I can put it."—The Wellspring.