Enduring Beauty

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  “Beauty is the quality which makes to endure. In a house that I know, I have noticed a block of spermaceti lying about closets and mantel-pieces, for twenty years together, simply because the tallow-man gave it the form of a rabbit; and, I suppose, it may continue to be lugged about unchanged for a century. Let an artist scrawl a few lines or figures on the back of a letter, and that scrap of paper is rescued from danger, is put in portfolio, is framed and glazed, and, in proportion to the beauty of the lines drawn, will be kept for centuries. Burns writes a copy of verses, and sends them to a newspaper, and the human race take charge of them that they shall not perish.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson. (1803–1882).   Essays and English Traits.

What do you give?

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"I'd like make three points today," a minister began his sermon one Sunday. "First, there are millions of people around the world who are going to hell. Second, most of us sitting here today do not give a damn about it . . .

. . . my third point is that you are more concerned that I, your pastor, said the word 'damn' than you are about the millions of people going to hell."

Having undivided attention, he proceeded to preach a sermon on putting obedient faith into action.

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