Text of the meditation
Truth can be arrived at only by daily and hourly doing the lessons of Virtue. In a properly governed household, a child is first taught to be obedient, and to conduct themselves properly under all circumstances. The child is not even told why they must do this, but is commanded to do it, and only after they have so far succeeded in doing what is right and proper are they told why they should.
No parent would attempt to teach their child the principles of ethics before requiring from them the practice of filial duty and social virtue. Virtue can be known only by doing, and the knowledge of Truth can be arrived at only by perfecting oneself in the practice of Virtue; and to be complete in the practice and acquisition of Virtue is to be complete in the knowledge of Truth.
Undaunted by failure, and made stronger by difficulties.
James Allen (1864–1912), Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year (1913) – public-domain text, gently modernised.
The original 1913 text is in the public domain.
