Honour by Good Action (thoughts from an old king)

beoram

beoram

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Nov 27, 2001
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Wella, wisan men, wel; gað ealle on þone weg ðe eow lærað þa foremæran bisna þara godena gumena ond þara weorðgeornena wera þe ær eow wæron.
Eala, eargan ond idelgeornan; hwy ge swa unnytte sien ond swa aswundne? Hwy ge nyllen ascian æfter þæm wisum monnum ond æfter þæm weorðgeornum, hwylce hi wæron þa þe ær eow wæron? ond hwy ge þonne nyllen, siððan ge hiora þeawas geascod hæbban, him onhirian, swa ge swiðost mægen?
forðæm hi wunnon æfter weorðscipe on þisse worulde, ond tiolodon goodes hlisan mid goodum weorcum, ond worhton goode bisne þæm þe æfter him wæron. Forðæm hi wuniað nu ofer ðæm tunglum on ecre eadignesse for hiora godum weorcum.


"Ah, you wise men! you all walk in the paths which were shown to you by the famous examples of those good men and those who were eager for honour who came before you.

Alas! you wretches and lovers of idleness; why are you so useless and so slothful? Why won't you ask about those wise men and about those who were eager for honour, to find out what sort of men they were, who came before you? And why, having found out their qualities, won't you emulate them, as much as you can?

For they strove for honour in this world, and obtained great glory by their good actions, and made a good example for those who came after them--thus, they now dwell above the stars in eternal happiness, because of their good deeds."



[from King Alfred's Boethius--Sedgefield (ed.); pg.139:l.5-17]


Thought some people here might appreciate these words as I do.
--B.
 
I can't quote verbatim but this is close: "A man who knoweth to do good and does not is with sin."
 
Perhaps it unfortunate that the Lord gave man the right of choice but, he did. :)
 
Yes. There is also the saying (from whence?): 'all that is required for evil to succeed is for good men to stand by and do nothing' -- which also seems to fit here.

The Bhagavad-Gita conveys much the same message - of the need for (correct) action in the world.
 
Originally posted by beoram
Thought some people here might appreciate these words as I do.
Click to expand...
:) Indeed.

"......Thou art even as a finely tempered sword
concealed in the darkness of its sheath ......
Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and desire
that thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest......"
"......Strive that your deeds may be cleansed
from the dust of self and hypocrisy......."
"...... Strive then with heart and soul
to distinguish yourselves by your deeds......."
"......ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits,
that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom.
......For results depend upon means,
......Trees that yield no fruit have been
and will ever be for the fire."
"......Bring thyself to account each day
ere thou art summoned to a reckoning;
for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee
and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds."
The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah -- Part II
The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah -- Part I
 
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