direct his actions so that they shall be productive of good rather
than evil. "Nothing can work me damage but myself," said St.
Bernard; "the harm that I sustain I carry about with me; and I am
never a real sufferer but by my own fault."

The best sort of character, however, cannot be formed without
effort. There needs the exercise of constant self-watchfulness,
self-discipline, and self-control. There may be much faltering,
stumbling, and temporary defeat; difficulties and temptations
manifold to be battled with and overcome; but if the spirit be
strong and the heart be upright, no one need despair of ultimate
success. The very effort to advance--to arrive at a higher
standard of character than we have reached--is inspiring and
invigorating; and even though we may fall short of it, we cannot
fail to be improved by every, honest effort made in an upward
direction.

And with the light of great examples to guide us--representatives
of humanity in its best forms--every one is not only justified,
but bound in duty, to aim at reaching the highest standard of
character: not to become the richest in means, but in spirit; not
the greatest in worldly position, but in true honour; not the most
intellectual, but the most virtuous; not the most powerful and
influential, but the most truthful, upright, and honest.

It was very characteristic of the late Prince Consort--a man
himself of the purest mind, who powerfully impressed and
influenced others by the sheer force of his own benevolent nature
--when drawing up the conditions of the annual prize to be given
by Her Majesty at Wellington College, to determine that it should