The Art of Living Together
THE art of living together is one which lies at the root of domestic happiness. Here are a few suggestions which, having found useful, I pass on to my readers. In order to live happily with others, “we must not insist that there is only one way of doing things, we must avoid unnecessary criticism of others’ methods, and we must freely allow large liberty in all personal details of management. How foolish to have some stock subject of disputation, about which there is always friction and irritation, amounting, perhaps, in the course of years, to positive alienation! Equally unwise is it to forget that it is the little pebbles that hurt the feet, and that a sufficiently sharp tack, however small, may make a shoe quite unendurable. It is well not to expect too much of others, being mindful of the fact that we ourselves make large demands upon their patience or toleration. There is always the danger that familiarity will swallow up courtesy, that the sweet attentions before marriage will cease after marriage. We need constant reminders to keep watch for little opportunities to praise, to show sympathy, to rejoice with the glad and weep with the sorrowful.” — Selected.