The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Plutarch’s “Moralia”

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“They say those discourses,” the Greek philosopher Plutarch (46-120 AD) writes, “like friends, are best and surest that come to our refuge and aid in adversity, and are useful.” This is an appropriate summation of his 26 chapter work called “Moralia.” This work contains sage advice on topics including  education, love, virtue and vice, marriage, parenting, character development, friends and enemies, divine punishment, grief and consolation, borrowing money and even talkitiveness. Each thought-provoking chapter can be read “devotional” style. If you keep a journal, each chapter could fuel your thoughts for reflection. I found my copy at no cost in the public domain on Kindle. 


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