Possibilities in Spare Moments

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.—FRANKLIN.

Do you love life? Then do not waste time, because time is what life is made of. FRANKLIN.

Eternity itself cannot restore the loss struck from the minute.—ANCIENT POET.

Even eternity cannot restore a lost minute. Ancient poet.

Periunt et imputantur,—the hours perish and are laid to our charge.—INSCRIPTION ON A DIAL AT OXFORD.

Periunt et imputantur, the hours pass and we are held accountable for them. INSCRIPTION ON A DIAL AT OXFORD.

I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.—SHAKESPEARE.

I wasted time, and now time wastes me. Shakespeare.

Believe me when I tell you that thrift of time will repay you in after life with a usury of profit beyond your most sanguine dreams, and that waste of it will make you dwindle alike in intellectual and moral stature beyond your darkest reckoning.—GLADSTONE.

Believe me, using your time wisely will pay you back later in life. The rewards will be greater than your most hopeful dreams. But wasting time will diminish you both intellectually and morally, beyond your darkest fears. GLADSTONE.

Lost! Somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.—HORACE MANN.

Lost! Somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, because they are gone forever. HORACE MANN.

"What is the price of that book?" at length asked a man who had been dawdling for an hour in the front store of Benjamin Franklin's newspaper establishment. "One dollar," replied the clerk. "One dollar," echoed the lounger; "can't you take less than that?" "One dollar is the price," was the answer.

"What is the price of that book?" a man finally asked. He had spent an hour lingering in the front store of Benjamin Franklin's newspaper business. "One dollar," replied the clerk. "One dollar," the man repeated. "Can't you take less than that?" "One dollar is the price," the clerk answered.

The would-be purchaser looked over the books on sale a while longer, and then inquired: "Is Mr. Franklin in?" "Yes," said the clerk, "he is very busy in the press-room." "Well, I want to see him," persisted the man. The proprietor was called, and the stranger asked: "What is the lowest, Mr. Franklin, that you can take for that book?" "One dollar and a quarter," was the prompt rejoinder. "One dollar and a quarter! Why, your clerk asked me only a dollar just now." "True," said Franklin, "and I could have better afforded to take a dollar than to leave my work."

The prospective buyer looked over the books for a while longer, then asked: "Is Mr. Franklin in?" "Yes," said the clerk, "he is very busy in the pressroom." "Well, I want to see him," the man insisted. The owner was called, and the stranger asked: "Mr. Franklin, what is the lowest price you can take for that book?" "One dollar and a quarter," he promptly replied. "One dollar and a quarter! Why, your clerk asked me only a dollar just now." "True," said Franklin, "and I could have better afforded to take a dollar than to leave my work."

The man seemed surprised; but, wishing to end a parley of his own seeking, he demanded: "Well, come now, tell me your lowest price for this book." "One dollar and a half," replied Franklin. "A dollar and a half! Why, you offered it yourself for a dollar and a quarter." "Yes," said Franklin coolly, "and I could better have taken that price then than a dollar and a half now."

The man seemed surprised. But he wanted to end the discussion he had started. "Well, come on, tell me your lowest price for this book." "One dollar and a half," Franklin replied. "A dollar and a half! Why, you offered it yourself for a dollar and a quarter." "Yes," Franklin said calmly, "and I would have been better off taking that price then than a dollar and a half now."

The man silently laid the money on the counter, took his book, and left the store, having received a salutary lesson from a master in the art of transmuting time, at will, into either wealth or wisdom.

The man silently put the money on the counter, took his book, and left the store. He had learned a valuable lesson from a master at turning time into either wealth or wisdom at will.

Time-wasters are everywhere.

Time-wasters are everywhere.

On the floor of the gold-working room, in the United States Mint at Philadelphia, there is a wooden lattice-work which is taken up when the floor is swept, and the fine particles of gold-dust, thousands of dollars' yearly, are thus saved. So every successful man has a kind of network to catch "the raspings and parings of existence, those leavings of days and wee bits of hours" which most people sweep into the waste of life. He who hoards and turns to account all odd minutes, half hours, unexpected holidays, gaps "between times," and chasms of waiting for unpunctual persons, achieves results which astonish those who have not mastered this most valuable secret.

In the gold-working room at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, a wooden lattice covers the floor. Workers lift it when they sweep, saving thousands of dollars’ worth of fine gold dust each year. Likewise, every successful man has a kind of net to catch "the scraps and leftover bits of life, those remnants of days and tiny bits of hours" that most people waste. He saves and makes use of every spare minute, half hour, unexpected holiday, gap "between times," and long wait for people who are late. He achieves results that astonish those who have not mastered this most valuable secret.

"All that I have accomplished, expect to, or hope to accomplish," said Elihu Burritt, "has been and will be by that plodding, patient, persevering process of accretion which builds the ant-heap—particle by particle, thought by thought, fact by fact. And if ever I was actuated by ambition, its highest and warmest aspiration reached no further than the hope to set before the young men of my country an example in employing those invaluable fragments of time called moments."

"All that I have accomplished, expect to accomplish, or hope to accomplish," said Elihu Burritt, "has come and will come through a slow, patient, persistent process of accumulation. It is the process that builds an ant heap, particle by particle, thought by thought, fact by fact. And if ambition ever motivated me, my greatest and deepest ambition was simply to set an example for the young men of my country. I hoped to show them how to use those invaluable fragments of time called moments."

"I have been wondering how Ned contrived to monopolize all the talents of the family," said a brother, found in a brown study after listening to one of Burke's speeches in Parliament; "but then I remember; when we were at play, he was always at work."

"I've been wondering how Ned managed to get all the family's talents," said a brother, deep in thought after hearing one of Burke's speeches in Parliament. "But then I remember. When we were playing, he was always working."

The days come to us like friends in disguise, bringing priceless gifts from an unseen hand; but, if we do not use them, they are borne silently away, never to return. Each successive morning new gifts are brought, but if we failed to accept those that were brought yesterday and the day before, we become less and less able to turn them to account, until the ability to appreciate and utilize them is exhausted. Wisely was it said that lost wealth may be regained by industry and economy, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance and medicine, but lost time is gone forever.

The days come to us like friends in disguise, bringing priceless gifts from an unseen hand. But if we do not use those gifts, they are silently carried away, never to return. New gifts arrive each morning. But if we failed to accept yesterday’s gifts and those from the day before, we become less able to use the new ones. Eventually, we lose the ability to appreciate and use them. As someone wisely said, lost wealth can be regained through hard work and thrift, lost knowledge through study, and lost health through moderation and medicine. But lost time is gone forever.

"Oh, it's only five minutes or ten minutes till mealtime; there's no time to do anything now," is one of the commonest expressions heard in the family. But what monuments have been built up by poor boys with no chance, out of broken fragments of time which many of us throw away! The very hours you have wasted, if improved, might have insured your success.

“Oh, it’s only five or ten minutes until mealtime. There’s no time to do anything now.” That’s one of the most common things people say at home. But poor boys with no opportunities have built great monuments using the scraps of time many of us throw away! If you had made better use of the hours you wasted, they might have ensured your success.

Marion Harland has accomplished wonders, and she has been able to do this by economizing the minutes to shape her novels and newspaper articles, when her children were in bed and whenever she could get a spare minute. Though she has done so much, yet all her life has been subject to interruptions which would have discouraged most women from attempting anything outside their regular family duties. She has glorified the commonplace as few other women have done. Harriet Beecher Stowe, too, wrote her great masterpiece, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," in the midst of pressing household cares. Beecher read Froude's "England" a little each day while he had to wait for dinner. Longfellow translated the "Inferno" by snatches of ten minutes a day, while waiting for his coffee to boil, persisting for years until the work was done.

Marion Harland has accomplished wonders by making the most of her spare minutes. She wrote her novels and newspaper articles whenever she had a moment, including when her children were in bed. Though she accomplished so much, she faced interruptions all her life. These would have discouraged most women from trying anything beyond their regular family duties. She has brought glory to ordinary life as few other women have. Harriet Beecher Stowe also wrote her great masterpiece, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," amid pressing household duties. Beecher read a little of Froude's "England" each day while waiting for dinner. Longfellow translated the "Inferno" in ten-minute stretches each day while waiting for his coffee to boil. He kept at it for years until the work was done.

Hugh Miller, while working hard as a stone-mason, found time to read scientific books, and write the lessons learned from the blocks of stone he handled.

While working hard as a stonemason, Hugh Miller found time to read science books. He also wrote about the lessons he learned from the blocks of stone he handled.

Madame de Genlis, when companion of the future Queen of France, composed several of her charming volumes while waiting for the princess to whom she gave her daily lessons. Burns wrote many of his most beautiful poems while working on a farm. The author of "Paradise Lost" was a teacher, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Secretary of the Lord Protector, and had to write his sublime poetry whenever he could snatch a few minutes from a busy life. John Stuart Mill did much of his best work as a writer while a clerk in the East India House. Galileo was a surgeon, yet to the improvement of his spare moments the world owes some of its greatest discoveries.

Madame de Genlis was a companion to the future Queen of France and gave her daily lessons. While waiting for the princess, she wrote several of her charming books. Burns wrote many of his most beautiful poems while working on a farm. The author of "Paradise Lost" was a teacher, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Secretary of the Lord Protector. He had to write his sublime poetry whenever he could find a few minutes in his busy life. John Stuart Mill did much of his best writing while working as a clerk at East India House. Galileo was a surgeon, yet he made good use of his spare moments. The world owes some of its greatest discoveries to those moments.

If a genius like Gladstone carried through life a little book in his pocket lest an unexpected spare moment slip from his grasp, what should we of common abilities not resort to, to save the precious moments from oblivion? What a rebuke is such a life to the thousands of young men and women who throw away whole months and even years of that which the "Grand Old Man" hoarded up even to the smallest fragments! Many a great man has snatched his reputation from odd bits of time which others, who wonder at their failure to get on, throw away. In Dante's time nearly every literary man in Italy was a hard-working merchant, physician, statesman, judge, or soldier.

If a genius like Gladstone carried a little book in his pocket throughout his life, he did so to capture unexpected spare moments. What should those of us with ordinary abilities not do to save precious moments from being lost? What a rebuke his life is to thousands of young men and women! They throw away whole months and even years of the time that the "Grand Old Man" saved in the smallest fragments. Many a great man has earned his reputation in spare moments that others throw away. Yet those others wonder why they fail to get ahead. In Dante's time, nearly every literary man in Italy was a hard-working merchant, physician, statesman, judge, or soldier.

While Michael Faraday was employed binding books, he devoted all his leisure to experiments. At one time he wrote to a friend, "Time is all I require. Oh, that I could purchase at a cheap rate some of our modern gentlemen's spare hours—nay, days."

While Michael Faraday worked binding books, he spent all his free time on experiments. Once he wrote to a friend, "Time is all I need. Oh, if only I could buy some of our modern gentlemen's spare hours, or even days, at a low price."

Oh, the power of ceaseless industry to perform miracles!

Oh, the power of tireless hard work to perform miracles!

Alexander von Humboldt's days were so occupied with his business that he had to pursue his scientific labors in the night or early morning, while others were asleep.

Alexander von Humboldt was so busy with his business during the day that he had to work on science at night or early in the morning, while others slept.

One hour a day withdrawn from frivolous pursuits and profitably employed would enable any man of ordinary capacity to master a complete science. One hour a day would in ten years make an ignorant man a well-informed man. It would earn enough to pay for two daily and two weekly papers, two leading magazines, and at least a dozen good books. In an hour a day a boy or girl could read twenty pages thoughtfully—over seven thousand pages, or eighteen large volumes in a year. An hour a day might make all the difference between bare existence and useful, happy living. An hour a day might make—nay, has made—an unknown man a famous one, a useless man a benefactor to his race. Consider, then, the mighty possibilities of two—four—yes, six hours a day that are, on the average, thrown away by young men and women in the restless desire for fun and diversion!

One hour a day taken from frivolous activities and put to good use would let any man of ordinary ability master an entire science. In ten years, an hour a day would turn an ignorant man into a well-informed one. An hour’s work each day would earn enough to pay for two daily newspapers, two weekly newspapers, two leading magazines, and at least a dozen good books. In an hour a day, a boy or girl could read twenty pages thoughtfully. That is over seven thousand pages, or eighteen large volumes, in a year. An hour a day might make all the difference between merely existing and living a useful, happy life. An hour a day might make, and indeed has made, an unknown man famous and a useless man a benefactor to his race. So consider the great possibilities of two, four, or even six hours a day. On average, young men and women throw that much time away in their restless desire for fun and diversion!

Every young man should have a hobby to occupy his leisure hours, something useful to which he can turn with delight. It might be in line with his work or otherwise, only his heart must be in it.

Every young man should have a hobby to fill his free time, something useful that he enjoys. It may be related to his work or not. The important thing is that his heart must be in it.

If one chooses wisely, the study, research, and occupation that a hobby confers will broaden character and transform the home.

If you choose a hobby wisely, the study, research, and activity it provides will broaden your character and transform your home.

"He has nothing to prevent him but too much idleness, which, I have observed," says Burke, "fills up a man's time much more completely and leaves him less his own master, than any sort of employment whatsoever."

"Nothing holds him back but too much idleness," says Burke. "I have observed that idleness fills a man's time more completely than any kind of work. It also leaves him less in control of himself."

Some boys will pick up a good education in the odds and ends of time which others carelessly throw away, as one man saves a fortune by small economies which others disdain to practise. What young man is too busy to get an hour a day for self-improvement? Charles C. Frost, the celebrated shoemaker of Vermont, resolved to devote one hour a day to study. He became one of the most noted mathematicians in the United States, and also gained an enviable reputation in other departments of knowledge. John Hunter, like Napoleon, allowed himself but four hours of sleep. It took Professor Owen ten years to arrange and classify the specimens in Comparative Anatomy, over twenty-four thousand in number, which Hunter's industry had collected. What a record for a boy who began his studies while working as a carpenter!

Some boys gain a good education in spare moments that others carelessly waste. In the same way, one man saves a fortune through small economies that others consider beneath them. What young man is too busy to find an hour a day for self-improvement? Charles C. Frost, the famous Vermont shoemaker, resolved to spend one hour a day studying. He became one of the best-known mathematicians in the United States. He also earned an enviable reputation in other fields of knowledge. John Hunter, like Napoleon, allowed himself only four hours of sleep. Hunter worked so hard that he collected more than twenty-four thousand specimens in comparative anatomy. Professor Owen took ten years to arrange and classify them. What a record for a boy who began his studies while working as a carpenter!

John Q. Adams complained bitterly when robbed of his time by those who had no right to it. An Italian scholar put over his door the inscription: "Whoever tarries here must join in my labors." Carlyle, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens signed a remonstrance against organ-grinders who disturbed their work.

John Q. Adams complained bitterly when people who had no right to his time wasted it. An Italian scholar put a sign over his door: "Whoever stays here must join in my work." Carlyle, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens signed a protest against organ-grinders who disturbed their work.

Many of the greatest men of history earned their fame outside of their regular occupations in odd bits of time which most people squander. Spenser made his reputation in his spare time while Secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sir John Lubbock's fame rests on his prehistoric studies, prosecuted outside of his busy banking-hours. Southey, seldom idle for a minute, wrote a hundred volumes. Hawthorne's notebook shows that he never let a chance thought or circumstance escape him. Franklin was a tireless worker. He crowded his meals and sleep into as small compass as possible so that he might gain time for study. When a child, he became impatient of his father's long grace at table, and asked him if he could not say grace over a whole cask once for all, and save time. He wrote some of his best productions on shipboard, such as his "Improvement of Navigation" and "Smoky Chimneys."

Many of the greatest men in history earned their fame outside their regular jobs. They used small scraps of time that most people waste. Spenser made his reputation in his spare time while serving as Secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sir John Lubbock's fame rests on his studies of prehistory, which he pursued outside his busy banking hours. Southey, who was seldom idle for a minute, wrote a hundred volumes. Hawthorne's notebook shows that he never let a chance thought or circumstance slip away. Franklin was a tireless worker. He spent as little time as possible eating and sleeping so that he could gain time for study. As a child, he grew impatient with his father's long prayers before meals. He asked his father if he could say grace over a whole cask once and for all, and save time. He wrote some of his best works aboard ship, including "Improvement of Navigation" and "Smoky Chimneys."

What a lesson there is in Raphael's brief thirty-seven years to those who plead "no time" as an excuse for wasted lives!

What a lesson Raphael's short life of thirty-seven years offers those who use "no time" as an excuse for wasting their lives!

Great men have ever been misers of moments. Cicero said: "What others give to public shows and entertainments, nay, even to mental and bodily rest, I give to the study of philosophy." Lord Bacon's fame springs from the work of his leisure hours while Chancellor of England. During an interview with a great monarch, Goethe suddenly excused himself, went into an adjoining room and wrote down a thought for his "Faust," lest it should be forgotten. Sir Humphry Davy achieved eminence in spare moments in an attic of an apothecary's shop. Pope would often rise in the night to write out thoughts that would not come during the busy day. Grote wrote his matchless "History of Greece" during the hours of leisure snatched from his duties as a banker.

Great men have always guarded their moments carefully. Cicero said: "I devote to studying philosophy the time others spend on public shows and entertainment, or even on mental and physical rest." Lord Bacon's fame comes from work he did in his leisure hours while Chancellor of England. During a meeting with a great monarch, Goethe suddenly excused himself. He went into the next room and wrote down a thought for his "Faust" so he would not forget it. Sir Humphry Davy became distinguished through work done in spare moments in an attic above an apothecary's shop. Pope often got up at night to write down thoughts that would not come during the busy day. Grote wrote his unmatched "History of Greece" in leisure hours snatched from his duties as a banker.

George Stephenson seized the moments as though they were gold. He educated himself and did much of his best work during his spare moments. He learned arithmetic during the night shifts when he was an engineer. Mozart would not allow a moment to slip by unimproved. He would not stop his work long enough to sleep, and would sometimes write two whole nights and a day without intermission. He wrote his famous "Requiem" on his death-bed.

George Stephenson treated every moment as if it were gold. He educated himself and did much of his best work in his spare time. He learned arithmetic during his night shifts as an engineer. Mozart would not let a moment pass without making use of it. He would not stop working long enough to sleep. Sometimes he would write for two whole nights and a day without a break. He wrote his famous "Requiem" on his deathbed.

Caesar said: "Under my tent in the fiercest struggle of war I have always found time to think of many other things." He was once shipwrecked, and had to swim ashore; but he carried with him the manuscript of his "Commentaries," upon which he was at work when the ship went down.

Caesar said: "In my tent, during the fiercest fighting, I have always found time to think about many other things." Once, he was shipwrecked and had to swim ashore. But he carried the manuscript of his "Commentaries" with him. He had been working on it when the ship went down.

Dr. Mason Good translated "Lucretius" while riding to visit his patients in London. Dr. Darwin composed most of his works by writing his thoughts on scraps of paper wherever he happened to be. Watt learned chemistry and mathematics while working at his trade of a mathematical instrument-maker. Henry Kirke White learned Greek while walking to and from the lawyer's office where he was studying. Dr. Burney learned Italian and French on horseback. Matthew Hale wrote his "Contemplations" while traveling on his circuit as judge.

Dr. Mason Good translated "Lucretius" while riding to see his patients in London. Dr. Darwin wrote down his thoughts on scraps of paper wherever he happened to be. He composed most of his works this way. Watt learned chemistry and mathematics while working as a mathematical instrument maker. Henry Kirke White learned Greek while walking to and from the lawyer's office where he was studying. Dr. Burney learned Italian and French while riding on horseback. Matthew Hale wrote his "Contemplations" while traveling on his circuit as a judge.

The present time is the raw material out of which we make whatever we will. Do not brood over the past, or dream of the future, but seize the instant and get your lesson from the hour. The man is yet unborn who rightly measures and fully realizes the value of an hour. As Fenelon says, God never gives but one moment at a time, and does not give a second until he withdraws the first.

The present is the raw material from which we can make whatever we choose. Do not dwell on the past or dream of the future. Instead, seize the moment and learn from each hour. No man has yet been born who truly measures and fully understands the value of an hour. As Fenelon says, God gives us only one moment at a time. He does not give us a second moment until he takes away the first.

Lord Brougham could not bear to lose a moment, yet he was so systematic that he always seemed to have more leisure than many who did not accomplish a tithe of what he did. He achieved distinction in politics, law, science, and literature.

Lord Brougham could not bear to waste a moment. Yet he was so organized that he always seemed to have more free time than many who accomplished less than a tenth as much. He excelled in politics, law, science, and literature.

Dr. Johnson wrote "Rasselas" in the evenings of a single week, in order to meet the expenses of his mother's funeral.

Dr. Johnson wrote "Rasselas" in the evenings over a single week to pay for his mother's funeral.

Lincoln studied law during his spare hours while surveying, and learned the common branches unaided while tending store. Mrs. Somerville learned botany and astronomy and wrote books while her neighbors were gossiping and idling. At eighty she published "Molecular and Microscopical Science."

Lincoln studied law in his spare hours while working as a surveyor. He taught himself basic subjects while working in a store. Mrs. Somerville learned botany and astronomy and wrote books while her neighbors gossiped and wasted time. At eighty, she published "Molecular and Microscopical Science."

The worst of a lost hour is not so much in the wasted time as in the wasted power. Idleness rusts the nerves and makes the muscles creak. Work has system, laziness has none.

The worst part of a lost hour is not the time wasted, but the power wasted. Inactivity rusts the nerves and makes the muscles creak. Work has order, but laziness has none.

President Quincy never went to bed until he had laid his plans for the next day.

President Quincy never went to bed without making plans for the next day.

Dalton's industry was the passion of his life. He made and recorded over two hundred thousand meteorological observations.

Hard work was Dalton's lifelong passion. He made and recorded more than 200,000 weather observations.

In factories for making cloth a single broken thread ruins a whole web; it is traced back to the girl who made the blunder and the loss is deducted from her wages. But who shall pay for the broken threads in life's great web? We cannot throw back and forth an empty shuttle; threads of some kind follow every movement as we weave the web of our fate. It may be a shoddy thread of wasted hours or lost opportunities that will mar the fabric and mortify the workman forever; or it may be a golden thread which will add to its beauty and luster. We cannot stop the shuttle or pull out the unfortunate thread which stretches across the fabric, a perpetual witness of our folly.

In cloth factories, a single broken thread ruins an entire piece of fabric. The mistake is traced to the girl who made it, and the loss is deducted from her wages. But who will pay for the broken threads in the great fabric of life? We cannot pass an empty shuttle back and forth. As we weave the fabric of our fate, threads follow every movement. The thread may be a poor one, made of wasted hours or lost opportunities. It may spoil the fabric and shame the weaver forever. Or it may be a golden thread that adds beauty and shine. We cannot stop the shuttle or pull out the unfortunate thread that stretches across the fabric. It remains a lasting witness to our folly.

No one is anxious about a young man while he is busy in useful work. But where does he eat his lunch at noon? Where does he go when he leaves his boarding-house at night? What does he do after supper? Where does he spend his Sundays and holidays? The way he uses his spare moments reveals his character. The great majority of youths who go to the bad are ruined after supper. Most of those who climb upward to honor and fame devote their evenings to study or work or the society of those who can help and improve them. Each evening is a crisis in the career of a young man. There is a deep significance in the lines of Whittier:—

No one worries about a young man while he is busy with useful work. But where does he eat lunch? Where does he go when he leaves his boardinghouse at night? What does he do after supper? Where does he spend his Sundays and holidays? How he uses his spare time reveals his character. The great majority of young men who go astray are ruined after supper. Most who rise to honor and fame spend their evenings studying, working, or with people who can help them improve. Each evening is a turning point in a young man’s life. Whittier’s lines have deep meaning:

Time is money. We should not be stingy or mean with it, but we should not throw away an hour any more than we would throw away a dollar-bill. Waste of time means waste of energy, waste of vitality, waste of character in dissipation. It means the waste of opportunities which will never come back. Beware how you kill time, for all your future lives in it.

Time is money. We should not be stingy or selfish with it. But we should no more throw away an hour than we would throw away a dollar bill. Wasting time means wasting energy and vitality. It also means wasting character through self-indulgence. It means wasting opportunities that will never come back. Be careful how you kill time, because your whole future lies in it.

"And it is left for each," says Edward Everett, "by the cultivation of every talent, by watching with an eagle's eye for every chance of improvement, by redeeming time, defying temptation, and scorning sensual pleasure, to make himself useful, honored, and happy."

"Each person can become useful, honored, and happy," says Edward Everett. "Develop every talent and watch like an eagle for every chance to improve. Make the most of your time, resist temptation, and reject sensual pleasure."