Word: gift
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...opinion gain the greatest rewards, and who for their learning and practical wisdom are best fitted to fill responsible positions. While men of brilliant endowments may combine both learning and eloquence with great power, the Websters and Choates are few, and genius is a dangerous gift unless under control. The care which prepares an amount of valuable material is of greater advantage than brilliancy trusting to inspiration. The only hope of ever attaining success in law is founded on a broad liberal training and education, which should include a knowledge not only of law, but "something of everything...
Again, humor, to be pleasing, should be natural, should spring forth of its own accord. Nothing is more displeasing than a labored production, especially if it aims to be witty. True wit resides in the man, and is not the result of education; it is the gift of nature. The more manifest reasons that the so-called funny writings are not favorably received in college journals is, because they appear to have no point to them; or if they have their applications, they are so poorly carried out, either by inability on the part of the writer...
...physical strife. The bloodiest pages in history record most fully the progress of truth. But whether war be regarded as a necessary element of advance or not, any measures to diminish its frequency, so as to cut off all but the inevitable, must be welcomed by every one. The gift is appreciated by us, not only as indicative of his ample generosity, but as showing his faith in mankind, and hopes for the ultimate happiness of the race...
...further execution of his plan. In 1858 financial measures were first taken to establish the present Museum. Agassiz's untiring efforts to carry out his plan forced from the public an acknowledgment of the worth of that plan, and while others gave with a liberal hand, his own gift, his time and genius, was the one without which the Museum would never have been built. He lived to see his wishes consummated and to feel a just pride in knowing that no place could be found in Europe which afforded better facilities for gaining a knowledge of the animal kingdom...
...succeed in the former are quite different from those necessary for success in the latter. He had better, then, confine himself to efforts in which success is certain, rather than seek after that which is virtually beyond his reach, not being attainable by human effort, but being a gift of nature...